Google changes search results in EU after billion-dollar fine

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Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

TL;DR

Google is being forced to change how Search works in the European Union (EU).

These changes will allow results from rival vertical search services (like Expedia or Booking.com) to appear before Google’s own.

Google says these changes will degrade the experience for European users.

After the European Union recently imposed a $1 billion fine on Google for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Google is changing how Search works in the region. This changes how Google search results appear in EU countries, which, the company’s representatives say, could deteriorate the quality of results for people in the region.

Earlier today, Google confirmed to Reuters that it was implementing “significant changes to Search in Europe.” The changes appear to apply particularly when users search for services such as flights or hotels (also known as vertical search services or VSS), where Google will now be required to show results from its top competitors before serving its own Flights, Hotels, or other services.