Google has unveiled new modifications to its search results following increased scrutiny from competitors, just one week ahead of an important meeting that may result in additional antitrust penalties from the European Union, as reported in a document accessed by Reuters.
The tech giant, part of the Alphabet conglomerate, has faced criticism after being charged by the EU in March with favoring its own services, including Google Shopping, Google Hotels, and Google Flights, over those of its rivals.
During a workshop scheduled for July 7-8 in Brussels, company representatives plan to engage with competitors and the European Commission regarding these proposed changes, according to the document.
The EU’s significant Digital Markets Act, under which Google has been accused, outlines a series of regulations for large technology firms aimed at limiting their market dominance and enhancing competition while providing consumers with greater options.
Recently, Google suggested the introduction of a vertical search service (VSS) box at the top of its search results, which would link to specialized search engines, hotels, airlines, restaurants, and transport services.
This new proposal, referred to as Option B, serves as an alternative to the previous week’s suggestion, based on a document from Google that was shared with involved parties and reviewed by Reuters.
According to the document, “Under ‘Option B’, whenever a VSS box appears, Google will also feature a box containing free links to suppliers.”
This supplier box, including listings for hotels, restaurants, airlines, and travel services, would be located beneath the VSS box, with Google managing the organization of the supplier information.
Option B aims to benefit suppliers while avoiding the establishment of a box that could be perceived as a Google VSS, the document explained.
A spokesperson for Google stated, “We’ve made hundreds of alterations to our products as part of our compliance with the DMA. While we seek to align with regulations, we remain genuinely concerned about some of the practical implications of the DMA, which may lead to diminished online products and experiences for European users.”
If found in violation of the DMA, Google could face fines amounting to 10 percent of its worldwide annual revenue.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
