Google Modifies Search Engine in Europe Following EU Regulations

Google has today introduced significant changes to its search engine in Europe to rectify a violation of the EU Digital Markets Act. These adjustments are a response to a fine imposed on the company by the European Commission in July 2026. The Commission found that Google had favored its own services, particularly for hotel bookings and travel, in search results. The new search engine structure now displays a specialized search engine at the top, followed by two others with less detail. Below that, a carousel view shows offers for restaurants, hotels, or airlines, but without price information.

The order of the displayed search engines is determined by Google's algorithm, raising questions about transparency. The EU aims to create more fairness for companies operating in digital advertising with these changes. However, Google stated in a statement that the adjustments lead to a significant loss of quality for the search engine. The company described the changes as the "largest quality loss of the search engine in 29 years." According to Google, millions of users in Europe have already tested the new search results.

Feedback has been predominantly negative, as many users had to rephrase their search queries multiple times to find the desired information. Google manager Nick Fox explained that the changes would worsen the user experience for Europeans and favor online intermediaries while disadvantaging local businesses. The criticism of the changes is intensified by the fact that Google has not published details about the methodology of the tests conducted. This raises questions about the validity of the user experiences presented by the company. Experts and competitors express concerns that the new search results could reduce the visibility of smaller businesses.

The EU fined Google in July 2026 for violating regulations on competitiveness in the digital market. These regulations are intended to ensure that all providers have equal opportunities in the online advertising market. The current changes are part of Google's efforts to comply with regulatory requirements and avoid future penalties. The discussion about the fairness of search results is expected to continue as the impact of the changes on user experience and competitive conditions is monitored. Google has announced that it will continuously monitor the adjustments and make further changes if necessary to meet EU requirements.

The EU Commission has already signaled that it will closely monitor the effects of the changes. A spokesperson for the Commission stated that compliance with the regulations for competitiveness in the digital market is crucial. The Commission's next steps could include further investigations or even additional measures against Google. The changes to the Google search engine in Europe are a direct result of the EU's regulatory actions and could have far-reaching consequences for online advertising and the visibility of businesses on the internet. Google itself has emphasized that the new search results will favor price comparison sites like Expedia and Booking.com. Nick Fox, Google manager, stated: "These changes worsen the user experience for Europeans – they favor online intermediaries at the expense of local businesses and remove useful features that people rely on daily."