Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Google Proposes Spam-Policy Changes to Address EU DMA Probe

The offer aims to resolve EU findings that the policy pushes down pages with partner content.

Google's logo during the CERAWeek energy conference 2026 in Houston, Texas, U.S., March 24, 2026. REUTERS/Danielle Villasana/File Photo

Overview

  • Google submitted proposed adjustments to its site reputation abuse policy and invited stakeholders to give feedback next week as a potential remedy under the Digital Markets Act.
  • EU monitoring found the current rules push down news and other publisher pages when they host commercial partner content, a practice often labeled parasite SEO.
  • Publishers say the demotions cut into a standard way to make money by hosting third-party pages for advertisers or partners.
  • If regulators accept the changes, Google could avoid a formal order and potential fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover under the DMA.
  • Google says it wants to keep results useful and block 'parasite SEO' tactics, and Bloomberg first reported the offer that Reuters verified in a European Commission document.