EU fines Google $3.5B over adtech ‘abuse’

The European Union has fined Google $3.5 billion for antitrust violations related to its digital advertising business. This penalty is the largest antitrust fine ever imposed by the EU. The EU found that Google had abused its dominant market position to unfairly promote its own advertising services over those of competitors. Specifically, Google was found to have required website owners to exclusively use its AdSense platform for online advertising. This decision is the latest in a series of antitrust actions taken by the EU against major tech companies. The fine comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the EU and the United States, and US President Donald Trump has already threatened to "nullify" the penalty. The ruling is a significant victory for EU competition authorities, who have sought to rein in the power of tech giants. However, the long-term impact of the decision remains to be seen, as Google is likely to appeal the ruling.