Google Moves To Avoid Future EU Antitrust Fines With Play Store Changes

Alphabet Inc.’s Google has proposed an overhaul of its Play Store to address regulatory concerns in Europe and reduce the risk of future penalties.

The changes, announced on Tuesday, will make it easier for third-party developers to direct customers to external websites for app purchases, a concern highlighted by European Union (EU) regulators in their review earlier this year. The new framework will apply across 30 countries in Europe and includes revised fee structures, with initial acquisition fees reduced from 10% to 3% and a tiered system for software makers. Google said the updates follow discussions with the European Commission and are part of its External Offers Programme in the EU.

The move comes under the scope of the Digital Markets Act, which sets strict requirements for large technology companies and allows fines of up to 10% of global revenue for violations.