Google hit with $1 billion EU fine, Trump calls punishment 'illegal'

Alphabet's GOOGL.O Google was fined a total of €890 million ($1 billion) on Thursday for flouting European Union rules aimed at reining in the power of Big Tech, the European Commission said.

However, the US tech giant is likely to avoid fresh fines as EU regulators lauded good progress in its ongoing efforts to comply with the landmark legislation.

The fines underscored Europe's determination to prevent Big Tech companies from thwarting rivals, defying US criticism and retaliatory tariff threats.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump on Friday blasted the European Union over what he called its "illegal' decision to fine Google, saying Washington would launch a probe into the bloc's "robbing" of American companies.

"We will immediately initiate a 301 Investigation into the practice of “ROBBING” American Companies," Trump said in a social media post, referring to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

"The European Union will pay a very big price for this illegal and highly unethical conduct," he wrote.