EU Fines Google €2.95 Billion for Online Ad Abuse
The EU has imposed a €2.95 billion penalty on Google for exploiting its dominance in online advertising. This substantial decision was announced on September 5, 2025, under the leadership of EU Competition Chief, Teresa Ribera. Notably, Ribera chose not to hold a press conference following the announcement.
Ribera's decision to forgo a press conference sparked some confusion. Initially, a European Commission spokesperson cited Ribera's travel to Ethiopia as the reason for her absence. However, it was later revealed that Ribera was in fact present in her office at the time a press conference would have taken place.
Ribera's team subsequently denied providing inaccurate information about her travel plans to the Commission's spokesperson. The Commission's spokesperson, Arianna Podestà, did not correct the record nor acknowledge an error in the provided information.
In the lead-up to the Google decision, Ribera had contradicted the Commission's official line on Israel in a speech in Paris. This may have contributed to the decision to avoid a press conference, as Ribera and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed that a press conference was not the right approach due to the political relevance of the decision.
The €2.95 billion fine on Google marks a significant step in the EU's efforts to regulate the tech giant's dominance in the online advertising market. Despite the initial confusion surrounding Ribera's whereabouts, the decision was made clear, and the political implications were acknowledged by the EU's top officials.
