Google has introduced revised adjustments to its search results in a bid to counter mounting criticism from competitors, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.
The move comes just days before a crucial workshop with EU regulators that could determine whether the tech giant faces another antitrust fine.
In March, the European Union accused Google of unfairly promoting its own servicesโsuch as Google Shopping, Google Hotels, and Google Flightsโover rival platforms. The allegations fall under the EUโs Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping regulation designed to limit the dominance of major tech firms and foster fair competition.
Ahead of a July 7-8 meeting in Brussels with EU officials and competitors, Google submitted a new proposal, referred to as “Option B,” as an alternative to an earlier offer. Under this plan, Google would display a dedicated box at the top of search results featuring links to specialized search engines, alongside listings for hotels, airlines, restaurants, and transport services. A second box below would provide direct links to suppliers, organized by Google.
The company stated that the revised approach aims to balance compliance with the DMA while avoiding the creation of a box that could be seen as favoring Googleโs own services. “Weโve made hundreds of alterations to our products as part of our DMA compliance,” a Google spokesperson said, though they expressed concerns that the regulation could degrade user experience for Europeans.
If found in violation of the DMA, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue. The upcoming workshop will determine whether the latest proposal satisfies regulators or if further enforcement action is necessary.
