Google is reportedly offering to modify search results to avoid an EU fine

In order to avoid paying billions of dollars in fines for violating the European Union’s digital markets law, Google is considering changing how it displays search results. Reuters Reports. Regulators in the European Union He took the case for the first time With Google’s search and Play Store business in March 2025, it claims it favors its own services in search results over third-party options and prevents developers from informing customers of alternative ways to access apps.

One of the main issues regulators have faced with Google Search is that Google appears to favor results from services like Google Flights or Google Hotels over results from “vertical search services,” which are service providers that specialize in displaying search results from a particular industry, such as Expedia or Hotels.com. To avoid fines, Google now wants the search engine to give VSS companies equal treatment in results.

“We will create the opportunity for each VSS to show its own box on search,” Google said in a proposal it reviewed. “The VSS box will be populated with results from that VSS inventory.” Reuters. Results from Google’s own services will be present in the same side-by-side format, and the winning VSS box will be displayed in search results based on “objective and non-discriminatory criteria.” Importantly, search results from actual airlines and car rental companies will not only be excluded, but will also appear at the top or bottom of the VSS box depending on their relevance to the user’s query.

Engadget asked Google for comment Reuters‘ Report and confirm details of proposed changes to Google Search. We will update this article if we hear back.

Like Apple, Google faces great scrutiny from the European Union due to its monopolistic control over its various platforms and services. The threat of fines from the DMA has forced Apple to open up its products to it Third-party app storesamong a host of other changes. Clearly, Google is willing to overhaul what once seemed like untouchable pillars of its business to avoid fines as well. However, it remains to be seen whether these proposed changes will be enough for regulators.