EU Opens DMA Probe Into Google Over Alleged Downgrading of News Publishers

Overview

• European Commission officials said they found indications that Google degrades content from news outlets and other publishers in search results under policies they fear are not fair or non-discriminatory.
• The probe, launched under the Digital Markets Act, centers on claims that sites hosting sponsored or third‑party promotional content lose visibility despite such content being a vital revenue source for many publishers.
• Google rejected the allegations as misguided and unfounded, arguing its rules target spam and practices such as “parasite SEO,” with review and reconsideration processes available for affected sites.
• DMA enforcement allows fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover, and this action follows the EU’s €2.95 billion penalty against Google in September over advertising practices.
• In a separate step, Google on November 14 proposed changes to its advertising services to meet EU competition requirements and avoid a potential adtech separation, and the Commission said it will assess those commitments.