Google has offered to change how its search engine works in Europe, hoping to avoid a possible fine from regulators in Brussels who believe the company has been unfair to its competitors. The proposal, which was seen by Reuters, would affect how results appear when people search for things like hotels, restaurants, or flights.
This new offer comes just a few months after the European Commission said Google had been favouring its own services, such as Google Shopping and Google Flights, instead of giving equal treatment to other businesses. These concerns fall under a new law in the European Union known as the Digital Markets Act. The law is meant to reduce the power of very large tech companies by making them treat other online services more fairly and give users more choice.
According to the documents, Google’s latest idea involves creating a special box at the top of its search page. In that box, one outside service would be featured using the same format that Google uses for its own services. The box would include three direct links chosen by the selected company, pointing to things like travel bookings or local dining options. The company chosen for the top spot would be picked using clear and neutral rules.
Other similar services would still appear below in the results, but they would not be placed in a box unless the user clicks to expand that part of the page. Google said this structure is meant to be fair, although it has not fully agreed with the Commission’s view that it has broken the rules.
In a joint note that Google and the Commission shared with other companies, the tech firm said it wants to avoid a legal dispute by finding a practical solution that satisfies both sides. A meeting has been set for July 8, where Google’s rivals will be able to give their opinion on the proposal and suggest changes if needed.
Some of those companies, who spoke to Reuters but did not want to be named, believe Google’s changes still do not go far enough. Their concern is that only one competing service would get a prominent position, while the rest would still be left in the background. They argue that this does not truly fix the problem of Google controlling how users discover information or where they end up clicking.
The European Commission has not made a final decision yet. It will consider the feedback it receives in July before deciding whether to accept Google’s plan or move forward with a formal penalty.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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This new offer comes just a few months after the European Commission said Google had been favouring its own services, such as Google Shopping and Google Flights, instead of giving equal treatment to other businesses. These concerns fall under a new law in the European Union known as the Digital Markets Act. The law is meant to reduce the power of very large tech companies by making them treat other online services more fairly and give users more choice.
According to the documents, Google’s latest idea involves creating a special box at the top of its search page. In that box, one outside service would be featured using the same format that Google uses for its own services. The box would include three direct links chosen by the selected company, pointing to things like travel bookings or local dining options. The company chosen for the top spot would be picked using clear and neutral rules.
Other similar services would still appear below in the results, but they would not be placed in a box unless the user clicks to expand that part of the page. Google said this structure is meant to be fair, although it has not fully agreed with the Commission’s view that it has broken the rules.
In a joint note that Google and the Commission shared with other companies, the tech firm said it wants to avoid a legal dispute by finding a practical solution that satisfies both sides. A meeting has been set for July 8, where Google’s rivals will be able to give their opinion on the proposal and suggest changes if needed.
Some of those companies, who spoke to Reuters but did not want to be named, believe Google’s changes still do not go far enough. Their concern is that only one competing service would get a prominent position, while the rest would still be left in the background. They argue that this does not truly fix the problem of Google controlling how users discover information or where they end up clicking.
The European Commission has not made a final decision yet. It will consider the feedback it receives in July before deciding whether to accept Google’s plan or move forward with a formal penalty.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next:
• Survey Finds 1 in 6 Fear AI, While Two-Thirds See It Advancing Their Careers
• AI Web Scraping on the Rise, Should Companies Block It or Welcome It?
