Overview
- People familiar with the matter say regulators are prepared to levy a significant penalty early next year unless Google proposes additional changes to bring Play into full DMA compliance.
- Investigators say Google’s August revisions—cutting the initial acquisition fee from 10% to 3%, introducing a two‑tier transactions model, and adding fees for external installs—still fall short.
- The probe targets technical limits on developer steering to outside offers and a service fee the Commission views as exceeding what the rules justify.
- Google says further mandated changes could expose Android and Play users to malware, scams and data theft, while the European Commission has declined to comment.
- Separate from the Play case, Reuters reports the Commission is also expected to fine Google next year over self‑preferencing in Search, as EU scrutiny extends to its AI content practices.