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Google offers new search result changes to avoid looming EU antitrust fine

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Google has submitted a fresh set of proposals to the European Commission in an effort to avoid a major antitrust fine, pledging to further modify how its search results display competing services such as Google Shopping, Hotels, and Flights.

According to a document seen by Reuters, Google’s latest offer builds on a July proposal that faced pushback from vertical search services (VSS) — specialized search engines focused on areas like travel, hotels, and restaurants — as well as price comparison sites. These rivals argued Google’s previous plans still favoured its own services.

The new proposal is part of an investigation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping EU law aimed at curbing Big Tech dominance, promoting competition, and offering users more choice.

In the updated framework, Google said it will allow third-party search services to display their own dedicated boxes on search results pages, similar in format to those used for Google’s own services. Each “VSS box” will contain inventory and results directly from the third-party platform, selected through objective, non-discriminatory criteria.

Suppliers — such as hotels, airlines, or restaurants — would appear in boxes placed either above or below depending on query relevance, the company explained. Google also said it would not share competitors’ data with other parties, a key concern among rivals.

While expressing a desire to resolve the EU probe, Google warned that excessive changes could benefit intermediaries at the expense of European businesses selling directly to consumers. “We remain concerned that further changes could prioritise the commercial interests of a small set of intermediaries,” a company spokesperson said.

Meta Unlikely to Further Change Pay-or-Consent Model, Faces Imminent EU Fines: Sources

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Meta Platforms is expected to maintain its current pay-or-consent model without further adjustments, making it nearly certain to face new antitrust charges and significant daily fines from the European Union, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

The European Commission recently warned Meta that limited tweaks to the model would not satisfy the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to limit Big Tech’s market power through strict regulations. Meta was already fined €200 million ($234 million) in April for breaching the DMA with its pay-or-consent approach from November 2023 to November 2024.

Although Meta modified the model in November 2024 to reduce the use of personal data for targeted ads, the EU remains unsatisfied. Sources indicated that unless circumstances change, Meta will not propose further revisions, prompting expected new charges and daily fines that could reach up to 5% of the company’s average daily global revenue, starting from June 27. The final decision on fines has yet to be finalized.

Following the Reuters report, Meta’s shares dropped 1.7% mid-session. Meta declined to comment on the latest developments but reiterated previous statements asserting its compliance with the DMA, highlighting the broad choices offered to European users and accusing the Commission of unfairly targeting its business model.

Google fails to resolve EU antitrust dispute over search result bias

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Google said it has been unable to resolve disagreements with major travel and search service providers — including Skyscanner and Booking.com — over how it presents search results, leaving the company exposed to a potential European Union antitrust fine. The disclosure follows a two-day workshop (July 7–8) hosted by the European Commission, where Google presented its latest proposals to address long-standing allegations that it favors its own services like Google Flights, Hotels, and Shopping over rivals.

Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to curb the dominance of “gatekeeper” platforms, violations can trigger fines of up to 10% of global annual revenue — a serious threat for Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

At the workshop, Google offered two new options: Both would give vertical search competitors (like Skyscanner, Kelkoo, and Booking.com) a box at the top of the results page, while listings for individual providers such as airlines, hotels, and restaurants would appear underneath. However, critics argue the proposals still tilt in Google’s favor.

Skyscanner CEO Bryan Batista said the latest suggestions risk “misleading consumers and cementing Google’s position” in organic search. Meanwhile, lawyer Thomas Hoppner — who represents complainants against Google — criticized the company for deflecting blame onto tensions between intermediaries and direct service providers instead of addressing its own alleged self-preferencing behavior.

Google’s Director of Competition, Oliver Bethell, acknowledged the conflict in a LinkedIn blog post, saying: “Competing interests continue to pull us in different directions.” He added that while feedback was welcomed, it’s time to conclude the debate, emphasizing that Google must act in the interest of broader users, not just a few commercial parties.

The European Commission is expected to make a final judgment on Google’s compliance in the coming months. Should regulators find the company in breach, it could trigger one of the most significant enforcement actions yet under the DMA.