Google has announced new changes to search results in Europe in response to complaints from small businesses and the threat of fines from EU antitrust authorities, Reuters reports.
The new rules are related to compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which prohibits tech giants from favoring their products and services.
The law, which came into effect last year, aims to limit the dominance of large tech companies. In response, Google has already made several changes, but small businesses, including price comparison websites, hotels, airlines, and retailers, have reported a 30% drop in direct clicks to their resources.
According to Google’s legal director, Oliver Bethel, the company is working to meet the demands of stakeholders and comply with DMA requirements. Among the proposed changes:
- Expanding and combining search formats that allow users to choose between price comparison sites and service providers.
- New formats allow competitors to display prices and images of their products.
- Creating new ad elements for comparison sites.
- In Germany, Belgium, and Estonia, Google will test a return to the old “ten blue links” search format, removing interactive maps showing hotel locations and results below them.
“We are reluctant to take this step because removing useful features does not benefit users or businesses in Europe”
says Bethel.
Violations of the DMA could cost the company a fine of up to 10% of its annual global revenue. Google has been under increased scrutiny from the European Commission since March of this year.
