[deugtniet]

Unlikely: google has a 2017 revenue of 109.65 Billion US dollars. that's up to 5 % (conversion rates guessed) of it's total REVENUE. This will hurt their profits even more. A fine of this magnitude really makes the difference between funding a new product / moonshot or not I figure.

[defertoreptar]

Google's free cash flow in 2018 was around 21 billion, and Europe/Middle East/Africa make up around 33% of their business. If you assume that the margins and capex in that area is similar, then the EU fines have nearly exceeded Europe's portion of Google's FCF for 2018.

[metafunctor]

Nah, I think 10x the fine and you're really starting to hurt.

[swift532]

50% of revenue sounds more like chopping off an arm or a leg than starting to hurt.

[metafunctor]

I was kidding, of course. Profit margins, even for Google, let alone a small digital business, are a fraction of revenue, typically negative.

[yeahitslikethat]

That's exactly what needs to happen. Google needs to lose a leg or an arm. Something that significant, but in corporate terms. Like maybe force them to divest of European holdings. Separate that business from North American operations. Or just exile then from Europe all together.