Google Complies with EU Rules for Travel Searches, Says the New Results Stink

As the world’s largest search engine, Google is often a target of Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to rein in Big Tech. The European Commission hit Google with a hefty 460 million euro ($543 million) fine in July for preferring its own services in searches for travel and shopping. Google has now made changes in accordance with the European Union’s wishes, but it claims the result is a massive reduction in search quality.

How Google’s Travel and Shopping Results Work

If you don’t live in Europe and perform a search for, say, hotels, Google will helpfully provide myriad sponsored links, booking recommendations, and price-comparison tools in its results. The problem is that this content isn’t organic - Google includes links and offers contingent on its business interests. To get to the regular search results for these types of lucrative searches, you have to scroll way down the page.

The EU’s Complaint

Companies that partner with Google can get more exposure, but the European Commission says this creates an unlevel playing field.

Google’s Response

“To comply with DMA requirements, we’re making significant changes to Search in Europe,” Google’s Nick Fox told Reuters. “These changes degrade the user experience for Europeans, boosting online intermediaries at the expense of local businesses and removing helpful features people rely on every day.”