Google abused its dominant position in online advertising, which has affected publishers, advertisers and consumers. This behavior is illegal under the EU's competition rules, says the European Commission's Vice President Teresa Ribera, who is responsible for competition law.
The Commission requires Google to stop the methods that favor its own company. Google has 60 days to present measures that the Commission will then review. Preliminarily, the EU believes that a sale of parts of Google's services may be the solution, according to a press release.
Donald Trump has also previously urged, among other things, the EU not to disturb American tech giants. Now he writes on Truth Social that the EU is taking money that "would otherwise go to American investments and jobs).
"This is in addition to the many other fines and taxes that have been issued against Google and other American tech companies," the president writes.
He threatens to launch a so-called Section 301 investigation against the EU to stop "the unreasonable penalties being imposed". The result of such an investigation can be unilateral tariffs or other trade measures.
"Very unfair, and American taxpayers will not tolerate it!" Trump writes.
Google intends to appeal the decision and calls in a statement the "unjustified fines" that will "harm thousands of European companies by making it harder for them to make money.
