Google Alters Search in Europe Amid €460M Fine
Google has made significant changes to its search engine in Europe to comply with EU antitrust rules and avoid further penalties. The company was fined €460 million for granting preferential treatment to its own offerings within search results, violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The updated approach will give an edge to price comparison platforms and other vertical search services, such as Expedia and Booking.com, over individual businesses that previously appeared with direct links. This change is expected to further pressure European businesses, which have already seen a 30% decline in free, direct booking traffic following earlier DMA-related changes.
Google's senior vice-president for knowledge & information, Nick Fox, stated that the move 'degrades the user experience for Europeans, boosting online intermediaries at the expense of local businesses, and removing helpful features people rely on every day.'