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Google Submits Revised Search Plan to Avoid EU Antitrust Penalty

By  |  June 22, 2025

Alphabet’s Google has submitted a new proposal to modify how its search engine presents results, aiming to address European Union antitrust concerns and avoid a potential large fine, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.

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    This move follows charges leveled by the European Commission three months ago, which accused the tech giant of giving preferential treatment to its own services—including Google Shopping, Google Flights, and Google Hotels—at the expense of competitors. These practices, according to the Commission, may be in breach of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping regulation designed to curb the market dominance of major technology companies and increase visibility for rivals, per Reuters.

    The updated proposal outlines a system where vertical search services (VSS)—specialized search engines focusing on areas such as travel or shopping—would be selected using objective and non-discriminatory criteria. These selected services would appear in a dedicated box at the top of the search results page. According to the documents cited by Reuters, this box would match Google’s own in format and function, featuring three direct links to services such as hotels, airlines, restaurants, and transport providers.

    Related: EU Court Advisor Backs €4.12 Billion Fine Against Google Over Android Practices

    Other vertical services, though still listed on the results page, would not receive the same visual prominence unless specifically clicked on by users.

    Google, while maintaining that it does not agree with the Commission’s preliminary findings, stated in the documents that it is seeking a “workable solution to resolve the present proceedings,” according to Reuters.

    A meeting set for July 8 will allow Google’s rivals to provide feedback on the proposed changes. However, some competitors, speaking anonymously ahead of the meeting, told Reuters that the suggested alterations fall short of creating a genuinely fair environment for competition.

    Source: Reuters