Google reportedly presents to tweak search outcomes to keep away from EU positive

As a way to keep away from paying billions of {dollars} in fines for violating the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, Google is contemplating altering how search outcomes are displayed, Reuters reports. EU regulators first took issue with Google’s Search and Play Retailer companies in March 2025, claiming it favored its personal providers in search outcomes over third-party choices and prevented builders from informing clients of different methods of accessing apps.

One in every of regulators essential points with Google Search was that Google appeared to favor outcomes from providers like Google Flights or Google Motels over ones from “vertical search providers,” suppliers focusing on displaying search outcomes from a selected business, like Expedia or Motels.com. To keep away from fines, Google now desires Search to present VSS companies equal therapy in outcomes.

“We are going to create the chance for every VSS to point out its personal field on Search. A VSS field can be populated with outcomes from that VSS stock,” Google mentioned in a proposal seen by Reuters. Outcomes from Google’s personal providers will exist with the identical formatting alongside, and the successful VSS field can be displayed in search outcomes based mostly on “goal and non-discriminatory standards.” Importantly, search outcomes from precise airways and automobile rental firms will not be excluded, they’re going to additionally seem in a field “above or under the VSS field relying on the relevance to the person’s question.”

Engadget has requested Google to touch upon Reuters‘ report and to verify the small print of its proposed adjustments to Google Search. We’ll replace this text if we hear again.

Like Apple, Google faces vital scrutiny from the EU due to its monopolistic management over its varied platforms and providers. The specter of fines from the DMA has pressured Apple to open up its merchandise to third-party app stores, amongst a number of different adjustments. Clearly, Google is prepared to tweak what as soon as appeared like untouchable pillars of its enterprise to keep away from fines, too. Whether or not these proposed adjustments can be sufficient for the regulators stays to be seen, although.