EU Slaps Google with $3.5 Billion Fine for Adtech Monopoly Abuse

EU Slaps Google with $3.5 Billion Fine for Adtech Monopoly Abuse

EU Fines Google $3.5 Billion for Ad Tech Abuse: What This Means for Publishers and Advertisers In a landmark decision, the European Union has fined Google a staggering $3.5 billion for abusing its dominance in the ad tech market. This ruling, delivered on September 6th, 2025, marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate surrounding big tech's influence over the digital advertising landscape. But what exactly did Google do to warrant such a hefty penalty, and how will this impact publishers, advertisers, and the future of online advertising? Understanding the EU's Concerns: Google's Ad Tech Monopoly The core of the EU's concern lies in Google's control over nearly every aspect of the ad tech stack. This includes tools used by publishers to sell ad space, tools used by advertisers to buy ad space, and the ad exchange where these transactions take place. The EU argues that Google has leveraged its dominant position in these different segments to favor its own service…