Google Forced to Change Search Algorithm in European Union Amid $1 Billion Fine

Google has been forced to change its search algorithm in the European Union (EU) due to a $1 billion fine imposed by the EU for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). According to Google, this change will degrade the experience for European users. The company claims that the changes will benefit online intermediaries at the expense of local businesses and remove helpful features relied upon daily.

The changes, which have been tested since February 2023, will now show results from rival vertical search services (like Expedia or Booking.com) before Google's own services in EU countries. This means that users in the EU will see different carousels for top VSS results, with one specialized search engine at the top of the page followed by two others with fewer details.

Google has expressed strong disapproval of these changes, calling them the most regressive change to Search in the last 30 years. The company says that users outside the EU will not be impacted by these changes.