Google has proposed changes to its search results to avoid fines for violating European Union competition rules. According to a document obtained by Reuters, this proposal was submitted to the European Commission ahead of official meetings scheduled for July 7-8 in Brussels.
In March, the EU accused Google of unfairly favoring its own products—such as Google Shopping, Google Flights, and Google Hotels—over competitors, creating an unlevel playing field in the market.
Google’s new proposal, called “Option B,” would display a separate box at the top of the search page for “vertical search services” (specialized platforms for hotels, restaurants, transportation, etc.). Below this box, additional links to service providers like hotels and airlines would appear.
Google states that it has already made hundreds of changes to its products to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, the company is concerned that some of these changes may negatively impact online experiences for European users.
“We are committed to compliance but remain genuinely worried about some real-world consequences of the DMA that could degrade the online experience for Europeans,” a Google spokesperson said.
If the European Commission finds Google in violation of the rules, the company could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue, potentially amounting to billions of dollars.
This development marks a significant milestone in ongoing negotiations between tech companies and the EU to ensure competition transparency and fair market practices.
