Google Files New Proposal To Avoid EU Antitrust Penalty, According To Leaked Document

A recently leaked document claims that Google has proposed a change to avoid a significant EU antitrust fine.

According to a document seen by Reuters, Google has proposed new modifications to its search result display in an effort to allay growing grievances from competitors and avoid any more antitrust penalties from the EU.

Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), the proposal is made just one week before a crucial workshop in Brussels that might decide the company’s future.

After the European Commission accused the US tech behemoth, controlled by Alphabet Inc., in March of unlawfully giving preference to its own services over rivals in search results, including Google Shopping, Google Flights, and Google Hotels, the company has come under more scrutiny.

On July 7–8, Google will meet with its competitors and EU regulators in Brussels to present and discuss its updated plans. The discussions are a component of the enforcement process under the DMA, the bloc’s historic law intended to lessen Big Tech companies’ hegemony and promote more competition and customer choice.

Known as “Option B,” Google’s latest proposal suggests adding a distinct box for vertical search services (VSS) on its search results page. These comprise specialized search engines for industries such as restaurants, hotels, transportation, and airlines. The paper claims that whenever a VSS box shows up, Google also shows another box with free connections to suppliers in those categories. The supplier box is hosted by Google and is positioned beneath the VSS box.

The memo said, “Option B gives suppliers opportunities without building a box that can be classified as a Google VSS.”

This plan replaces the one that was submitted the week before, which suggested putting specialized platforms and vertical services in a top-of-page box.

Google has made “hundreds of alterations” to its products in order to comply with the DMA, according to a Google spokeswoman. “While we strive for compliance, we remain genuinely concerned about some of the real-world consequences of the DMA, which are leading to worse online products and experiences for Europeans,” the representative wrote.

If Google is found to have violated the Digital Markets Act, it might be fined up to 10% of its yearly global revenue.