Google revamps Search in Europe, warns of lower quality to comply with EU rules

The overhaul follows a €460 million fine imposed on Google by the European Commission in July for favouring its own services

by e4m Staff
Published: Sep 9, 2026 9:20 AM | 2 min read

Google is implementing major changes to its Search results in Europe to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which may lower search quality and raise costs for European businesses.
The changes follow a €460 million fine from the European Commission for preferential treatment of its own services in search results, with a compliance deadline of 60 days to avoid further penalties.
The new format will prioritize specialized search services, featuring one prominent search engine at the top of results and two others with less detail, while traditional business listings will be placed lower and lack certain features.
These updates are specific to European users and are part of a broader trend, as Google has faced €10.38 billion in EU antitrust penalties over the past two decades for anti-competitive practices.

Google has begun rolling out significant changes to its Search results in Europe as it moves to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), warning that the new format could reduce the quality of Search and increase costs for European businesses.

The overhaul follows a €460 million fine imposed on Google by the European Commission in July for favouring its own services across shopping, hotels, transport and sports search results. The Commission gave Google 60 days to comply with the DMA or face periodic penalties of up to 5% of its worldwide turnover.

Under the revamped Search experience, Google will give greater prominence to specialised or vertical search services, including comparison platforms operating in categories such as hotels, airlines and restaurants.

One specialised search engine will appear prominently at the top of relevant results, followed by two others carrying fewer details. Carousels for businesses such as hotels, airlines and restaurants will appear further down the page and will no longer display some features, including real-time pricing. Rankings within the new format will continue to be determined by Google’s algorithms.

Google argues that the changes effectively give online intermediaries and comparison platforms greater visibility at the expense of businesses seeking to reach consumers directly.

Google was separately fined €430 million in July over restrictions on app developers directing users towards potentially cheaper offers outside Google Play. Together, the two DMA penalties imposed in July amounted to €890 million.

The latest Search changes apply to users in Europe and will not affect Google Search users outside the region.

Google has accumulated €10.38 billion in EU antitrust penalties over nearly two decades, as European regulators have increasingly sought to limit the ability of dominant technology platforms to use their position in one market to favour their own products and services.