this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2025
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[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 41 points 1 day ago (3 children)

googles net profit is 115 billion/year. So while 3.5 is inconvenient, I imagine google feels that its just the cost of doing business in the EU.

[–] kameecoding@lemmy.world 46 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Sure you can be cynical about it, but you could also read beyond the headline

Beyond the monetary fine, the European Commission is ordering Google to restructure parts of its adtech business. Specifically, Google must:

  • End self-preferencing practices — meaning it cannot give undue advantage to its own services.

  • Address conflicts of interest within its advertising supply chain.

  • Ensure fair competition by opening its ecosystem more effectively to rivals.

[–] localhorst@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oh no, how will they ever be able to afford the 4 bn fine if they don't comply

[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

wouldn't they need to pay until it's done? Looks like they found a way for them to pay a little bit of taxes

[–] localhorst@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago

I believe it when I see it

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago

Yet at the same time Alphabet products are being used everywhere in often critical infrastructure.

I really wish the EU would do more about their pretty promises of strengthening their own.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's not how it works. Questions is how much more money they made by breaking this specific rules. If breaking the rules allowed to increase the profits by more then 3.5B then the fine is too small. If, for example, they made only $1B extra by breaking those rules then they effectively lost $2.5B and will stop breaking them.

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

googles EMEA division is 29% of profits. So figure about 30B profits.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 3 points 1 day ago

Yes but if they stop breaking the rules those profit will not fall to $0.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Holy crap. I thought you must have that wrong, probably meant revenue, but no, it really is Alphabet's net profit according to DDG (100 Billion in 2024 and rising).

This in itself is enough reason that this company must die. Not that the EU will ever achieve that, but this could be a step to big G losing its monopoly in Europe.