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Google proposes fresh tweaks to search results in Europe

Google has actually proposed more changes to its search results page in Europe after some smaller rivals complained about lower traffic to their sites resulting from previous tweaks by the Alphabet system and as EU antitrust regulators think about imposing charges against the business under brand-new EU tech guidelines.

Under the Digital Markets Act, Google is restricted from favouring its product or services on its platform. The Act kicked in last year and is targeted at controling the power of Big Tech.

The world's most popular internet online search engine has given that then attempted to attend to contrasting needs from price-comparison sites, hotels, airlines and little retailers, among others. The latter three groups stated their direct reservation clicks have actually fallen by 30% due to recent Google changes.

We have for that reason proposed more changes to our European search results page to try to accommodate these requests, while still meeting the objectives set by the DMA, Google's legal director, Oliver Bethell, said in an article on Tuesday.

Changes consist of introducing expanded and similarly formatted units enabling users to choose in between comparison sites and supplier websites, new formats letting competitors show rates and photos on their sites along with brand-new ad systems for comparison sites.

We believe the most recent proposition is properly to balance the hard trade-offs that the DMA involves, Bethell stated.

For its search results in Germany, Belgium and Estonia, Google also prepares to eliminate the map showing the place of hotels and the outcomes below the map, similar to its old ten. blue links format from years earlier, as part of a brief test to. gauge users' interest.

We're really hesitant to take this action, as removing handy. functions does not benefit customers or companies in Europe,. Bethell said.

Google has remained in the European Commission's crosshairs. given that March. DMA offenses can cost business as much as 10% of. their yearly international turnover.

(source: Reuters)