EU warns Google of major fine over Play Store rules non-compliance

• The EU is warning Google of a potential major fine early next year over its Play Store rules.
• Regulators believe Google has not sufficiently complied with competition rules, specifically regarding app developers' ability to direct users to alternative purchasing channels and the Play Store's service fees.
• Google's August adjustments to Play Store policies were deemed insufficient by EU officials, who are using Apple's recent App Store overhaul as a compliance benchmark.
• The potential fine, under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), could reach up to 10% of Google's global annual turnover. Google warns further mandated changes could increase security risks for Android users.
• The European Commission is also investigating Google's alleged preferential treatment of its own services in search results and its use of online content for AI tools.

Why It Matters: Google faces a major EU fine, potentially changing app store rules for everyone.