Alphabet’s Google is set to face charges for violating EU regulations designed to curb the influence of Big Tech after its proposed changes to search results failed to resolve the concerns of the EU antitrust regulator and its competitors, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The European Commission’s move comes amid increasing tensions with US President Donald Trump, who has aligned with American tech giants lobbying against EU rules and criticizing the fines as a form of tariff. This has raised concerns that the EU watchdog may soften its stance on Big Tech.
Since March of last year, the European Commission has been investigating Google for potential violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). One key probe focuses on whether Google gives preferential treatment to its own vertical search engines—such as Google Shopping, Google Flights, and Google Hotels—over competitors, and whether it discriminates against third-party services in its search results.
The charges are expected to be related to these issues, sources said.
The EU’s competition authority declined to comment. Google, in response, referred to a December blog post by its EMEA competition director, Oliver Bethell, who stated that the company was working toward a balanced solution with the Commission. Bethell mentioned that making further changes to Google’s search results format to satisfy rivals could lead to the removal of certain useful features. Recently, Google has introduced a series of changes to its search result format to address the demands from price-comparison websites, airlines, hotels, and small retailers, but most have dismissed these proposals as non-compliant with the DMA.
Regulators have also expressed dissatisfaction with Google’s threat to reinstate blue links in search results if it cannot meet rivals’ demands, one of the sources added. Under the DMA, Google faces the risk of fines up to 10% of its global annual revenue if found guilty of favoring its own services on its platforms.
The charges against Google are expected to be issued after decisions are made on more advanced investigations into Apple and Meta Platforms, one of the sources revealed.
