Google seeks to stave off further EU penalties with proposed overhaul of news search display
If approved by regulators and rivals, the offer could prevent a formal order to change business practices and additional fines
Google has submitted formal proposals to alter how it presents news results on its search engine, a move designed to avert further competition penalties from the European Union. The initiative seeks to address specific concerns that the company's algorithms were deliberately suppressing publisher websites containing advertisements from commercial partners.
According to reports filed on Wednesday, the tech giant aims to resolve these allegations by modifying its search presentation. The proposals specifically target the issue of search results being pushed down when publishers include ads from commercial entities, a practice regulators have scrutinised under the Digital Markets Act.
Should this offer gain approval from both market rivals and EU regulators, Google could avoid a formal directive to change its business practices. Success would also potentially spare the company from accumulating further fines, adding to the 9.5 billion euros ($11.16 billion) it has already incurred in competition penalties from the bloc.
The proposed package includes amendments to Google's anti-spam policies alongside the changes to news search display. This broader approach suggests the company is attempting to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory framework governing large digital platforms in the European Union.
However, the outcome remains uncertain as the European Commission has declined to comment on the proposals. Google has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the specific details of the changes, leaving the final terms of the offer based on reports from people familiar with the situation.
Ultimately, the approval of these modifications is conditional on acceptance by third parties, including competitors and regulators. Without such consensus, the company faces the prospect of a formal order to overhaul its business practices and the risk of additional financial penalties under the Digital Markets Act.
