• Google faces EU charges for allegedly favouring its vertical search services like Google Shopping, Flights, and Hotels over competitors.
  • If found in violation of the DMA, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.

Google is set to face charges from the European Commission for allegedly breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as its proposed changes to search results have failed to address antitrust concerns, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into whether Google favours its own vertical search services—such as Google Shopping, Google Flights, and Google Hotels—over competitors.

The European Commission has been probing these potential violations since March last year, examining whether the tech giant discriminates against third-party services in search results.

Google has made multiple adjustments to its search result formats in recent months to appease regulators and rivals.

However, price-comparison sites, hotels, airlines, and small retailers have largely dismissed these changes as failing to comply with DMA regulations.

EU antitrust regulators are also displeased with Google’s suggestion that it may revert to a simpler format of blue links if it cannot resolve the concerns raised by competitors.

In response to the ongoing scrutiny, Google referred to a December blog post by Oliver Bethell, its director for EMEA competition, in which he stated that the company is working toward a “balanced solution” with the Commission.

Bethell also cautioned that further changes to search result formats could lead to the removal of certain useful features.

Under the DMA, Google is prohibited from favouring its own products and services on its platforms. Violations could result in fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.

The European Commission is expected to issue charges against Google following decisions on separate investigations into Apple and Meta Platforms, which are in more advanced stages.

Additionally, another DMA probe is examining whether Google restricts app developers from informing users about external offers outside the Google App Store without cost.

Edited By Annette George