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Google is proposing more changes to its search results in Europe after some smaller rivals complained that previous changes led to a drop in traffic to their sites. letter EU antitrust regulators are considering charging the company under new EU tech rules.
According to the Digital Market Law, Google is not allowed to recommend its products and services on its platform. The bill, which took effect last year, aims to rein in the power of big tech companies.
Since then, the world’s most popular Web search engine has been trying to resolve conflicting demands from price comparison sites, restaurants, airlines and small retailers alike. The latter three groups reported a 30% drop in direct booking clicks due to Google’s recent changes.
“As a result, we are recommending additional changes to our European search results to try to meet these requirements while still meeting the goals set by the DMA,” Google legal director Oliver Bethell said in a blog post on Tuesday.
Changes include the introduction of an expanded and identically formatted unit that allows users to choose between comparison sites and supplier sites, a new format that lets competitors display prices and images on their sites, and a new ad unit for comparison sites.
“We believe the latest proposal is the right way to balance the difficult trade-offs involved in DMA,” Besser said.
For search results in Germany, Belgium and Estonia, Google also plans to remove the map showing hotel locations and results below the map, similar to the old “ten blue links” format from years ago, as part of a brief test to gauge user interest. .
“We are very reluctant to take this step because removing useful features will not benefit European consumers or businesses,” Bessel said.
Google has been in the spotlight of the European Commission since March. Violations of the DMA can cost a company up to 10% of its global annual turnover.
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