Google will 'degrade' Search in Europe to avoid EU fines

Google said it will change its Search services in the EU in an effort to sidestep some of the 890 million ( 1 billion) in fines levied by the European Commission earlier this summer. The EU charged a fine of 460 million ( 534 million) on claims that Google had abused its dominance in search to prioritize the brand's other services when displaying query results. That sanction was the latest salvo between the EU government and a US tech company for infringing on its Digital Markets Act. The debate centers on the DMA requirement that major tech brands "must not treat their own services more favorably in ranking than third-party services." Google first laid out some of its planned changes to its services in response to the Digital Markets Act in March 2024.