ITIF - The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

07/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2026 08:21

EU Fine Against Google Warrants Consideration of Retaliatory Measures, Says ITIF

WASHINGTON-Following the European Commission's decision to fine Google $1 billion for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act's (DMA) bans on self-preferencing using Google Search and anti-steering practices in Google's Play Store, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Joseph V. Coniglio, senior counsel and director of antitrust and innovation:

This is a sad day for transatlantic relations. Instead of working together to counter China's quest for global techno-economic dominance, the European Union has continued to weaponize the DMA to extract huge fines from America's leading innovators-despite admitting Google's ongoing good-faith efforts to comply.There are no grounds for finding that Google is in breach of the DMA's prohibition on self-preferencing. In fact, the changes Google has been forced to make in this area have not only resulted in a worse user experience but also directed traffic away from businesses like hotels and restaurants and into the hands of Google's intermediary competitors.The Commission's attack on Google's mobile ecosystem fares no better. Google has every right to charge a commission on linked-out transactions so it can recoup the substantial investments it makes in Android. The Commission has provided no clear basis for determining that Google's fee structure is somehow noncompliant.Today's decision is yet more evidence of the DMA's discriminatory targeting of America's leading innovators, who have paid all of the nearly $2 billion in fines the Commission has levied under the regulation in just over a year.In the face of the DMA's ever-escalating attacks on America's digital firms, the United States increasingly has no choice but to consider retaliatory measures using frameworks like Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which provides recourse against actions by foreign governments that discriminate against and burden U.S. commerce.

Contact: Sydney Mack, [email protected]

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