Alphabets Google has submitted new proposals to modify its search results in an effort to highlight competitors more prominently and avoid a potential EU antitrust fine, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.
The move comes three months after the European Commission accused the U.S. tech giant of prioritizing its own services Google Shopping, Google Hotels, and Google Flights in violation of the Digital Markets Act DMA.
The landmark Digital Markets Act DMA outlines a set of rules for Big Tech designed to curb their dominance, foster competition, and expand consumer choice. According to the document, Googles new proposal would grant a competing vertical search service VSS chosen based on objective, non-discriminatory criteria a dedicated box at the top of the search page, mirroring Googles own format, information, and features.
The box would contain three direct links picked by the VSS, to hotels, airlines, restaurants and transport.
Other VSS, which are specialised search engines within Google, would be ranked below but without a box unless users click on them.
