Google's European Search Quality Plummets Amid DMA Laws Changes

Google made significant changes to its search experience in Europe due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) laws, resulting in the largest reduction in search quality in the region. According to Google, the DMA laws led to a degradation of search results, making it more difficult for users to find relevant information.

The company acknowledged that it has lost faith in websites that rely heavily on programmatic SEO tactics, stating that sometimes there is no absolute right answer when it comes to SEO. This shift in approach may affect website owners who have become accustomed to relying on specific techniques to improve their rankings.

Google also emphasized the challenges of adapting to AI-driven search results, citing the old position-based ranking system (1-10) as difficult for site owners to map to current expectations. The company is testing thinner citation panels and character counter tools within its AI Overviews feature.