Living in San Jose, the news about Google feels very close to home. I know people who work at Google.

I saw an article saying, "The EU has fined Google 890 million euros, which is about 1.4 trillion won in our currency."

At first, I thought to myself, "Is this just fixing the barn after losing the cow?"

However, as I read through the details, it seemed a bit more complicated than just a case of harassing Google.

This fine is primarily due to two reasons. One is that Google prominently displayed its own services, like shopping, hotels, and flights, over competitors in its search results.

The other is that Google Play prevented app developers from directing users to cheaper external payment options or other app stores.

The EU determined that these actions reduced consumer choice and harmed competition.

As a result, they imposed a total fine of 890 million euros, combining 460 million euros related to search and 430 million euros related to Google Play.

This is not the first time such news has emerged. Google has already faced a final antitrust fine of about 4.1 billion euros for restricting competition through its Android operating system.

The fines are not a one-time issue, as similar problems continue to arise.

So, did Google really do something wrong? Or is the EU excessively pressuring American big tech?

Honestly, I think both perspectives have some validity.

From Google's standpoint, they have developed a search engine, maps, and hotel searches, so it makes sense they want to showcase their services.

From a user perspective, many find Google's hotel and flight information convenient.

Google has strongly opposed, stating, "Due to EU regulations, we have to eliminate features that people like, such as real-time pricing and booking functions, and the security of the Play Store may weaken."

On the other hand, I understand the EU's logic. Just as a referee in a soccer game shouldn't play for their own team, a company with a massive search engine shouldn't elevate its own services above others, as it could create an uneven playing field for other businesses.

The EU's view is that consumers could lose the opportunity to choose better services.

Thus, they advocate the principle that "good products should compete based on the product itself, not the company behind it."

This decision came at a time when trade tensions between the U.S. and the EU are ongoing, and former President Trump has criticized the EU's hefty fines on American big tech for years.

Some say, "The EU is targeting only American companies again." Meanwhile, the EU maintains that "any company doing business in Europe must follow the same rules, regardless of its country of origin."

Living in San Jose, I frequently see employees from Google, Apple, and Meta.

So, this news doesn't feel like just someone else's company story. However, one thing is clear.

In the age of AI and platforms, a single search bar or app store has become an immense power. The era of simply saying, "It's a good service, so just use it," is coming to an end.

Whether this incident is just fixing the barn after losing the cow will depend on how much Google actually changes its search results and Play Store policies moving forward.

However, it is clear that as Google has become a gateway to the global digital ecosystem, such conflicts are likely to continue in the future.