Brussels – The Europeanโ Union has levied โคa fine of US โ$3.45 billion โ(approximately Rp.56.6 trillion, based on anโค exchangeโ rate of โRp.โค 16,420)โ againstโ Google, the Alphabet subsidiary, for anti-competitive practices within its advertising technology business. this marks the fourthโ EU competition fine against Google inโ recent decades.
The decision, announced Sunday, September 7, 2025, promptedโ a โขswift and โฃcritical response from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who labeled the action โ”unfair and discriminatory” in a post on his social media platform, โคTruth Social.Trump โthreatened to invoke Article 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, โฃwhich authorizes the U.S.to impose penalties on foreign countries deemed โคto burden American trade.
“We cannot allow this to happen to the results โขof a brilliant American intelligenceโค andโข have never happened before. If that happens, I will be forced to start a process based on โArticle 301 to cancel โthe unfair โฃpunishment imposedโข on โคAmerican companies that pay this โtax,” trump stated. He further warned of retaliatory tariffs โคon the european Union, echoing previous trade disputes.
Google intends โto appeal the ruling. However, the EU Commission has indicated it may pursue stronger remedies, including potential divestment, should Googleโ fail to address โฃthe โidentifiedโข conflicts of interest.The โฃCommission found that Google prioritized its โown online display advertising service,โ bolstering its ad exchange, โADX, and subsequently allowing the company to charge higher fees. This โฃpractice, according to โthe Commission, disadvantagedโ competitors andโฃ online publishers.
The EU hasโ ordered Google to โขcease self-preferential practices and to outline a plan for compliance within 60 days, with a 30-day implementation period following.โ The case highlightsโฃ escalating tensions surrounding digital market regulation and the EUS efforts to regulate dominant non-European platforms.
initialโ plans toโ issueโข the fine on Monday wereโ reportedlyโ delayed due to concerns fromโ EU Trade Commissioner โคMaros Sefcovic regarding potential U.S.โค tariffs on European automobiles.