EU Seeks Further Changes to Google Play App Store Policies

Core Viewpoint - The European Union is poised to fine Google in Q1 2026 if the company fails to make further concessions to comply with the Digital Markets Act [1] Group 1: Investigation and Compliance - The European Commission has been investigating the Google Play app store since March, focusing on technical restrictions that prevent app developers from directing users to other channels and high service fees for customer acquisition [2] - Google made changes to its app store in August to address these issues, but the European Commission believes these changes are insufficient [3] - Google stated that it is working closely with the European Commission but expressed concerns that further changes could expose Android and Play users to risks such as malware and data theft [3] Group 2: Changes Implemented - The changes made by Google included updates to the external offers program in the EU, allowing links to download developers' own external apps and enabling developers to select ongoing service tiers [4] - Google emphasized that these updates aim to balance flexibility for developers with trust and safety needs across the ecosystem [4] Group 3: Ongoing Investigations - The European Commission has announced another antitrust investigation into Google, examining whether the company has imposed unfair conditions on content creators and favored its own AI model over competitors [4] - Google is also addressing competition issues identified in its advertising technology operations, having submitted a proposal to the Commission in November for assessment [5]