Google Slapped With $3.5B Fine for Adtech Practices That Violate EU Competition Law

The tech behemoth is facing antitrust rulings over its adtech practices in both the U.S. and Europe.

Google must pay a €2.95 billion ($3.5 billion) fine after the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, determined that the tech giant breached antitrust law by impeding competition in the display advertising market. 

The commission said in a statement published today that Google abused its dominance in the space by giving preference to its own ad exchange, thereby blocking out competitors and harming advertisers, publishers, and other adtech companies. 

As part of the decision, Google has been ordered to put an end to some self-preferential practices and “cease its inherent conflicts of interest along the adtech supply chain” within 60 days, the regulatory body said. 

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Kendra Barnett

Kendra Barnett is Adweek's senior tech reporter.