EU launches new probe into Google’s search practices despite Trump’s retaliation threats

The European Union has opened a new investigation into Google, alleging that the tech giant is unfairly demoting news publishers in search results – a move that comes despite US President Donald Trump’s threats of retaliation against countries targeting American tech firms.

The European Commission said on Thursday that it suspects Google of lowering the visibility of media outlets’ websites when they publish content in collaboration with commercial partners, including sponsored editorials.

EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said that they were concerned Google's policies did not allow news publishers to be treated in a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory manner in its search results. She added that the commission would investigate to ensure news publishers were not losing out on important revenues during a difficult time for the industry.

The probe, launched under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), is part of broader efforts to curb the dominance of major technology companies and ensure fair competition across the bloc.

Google strongly criticised the EU’s move, describing the investigation as “misguided” and “without merit.” The company defended its search policies as necessary measures to prevent spam and maintain the quality of results.

“This surprising new investigation risks rewarding bad actors and degrading the quality of search results,” said Pandu Nayak, Google Search’s chief scientist, in a blog post.

The European Commission clarified that it will not question Google’s anti-spam policy as a whole but will examine whether its application to publishers is fair and transparent.

The Commission noted that the policy appeared to directly affect a common and legitimate way for publishers to monetise their websites and content.

Officials expressed concern that Google’s efforts to block spam could interfere with publishers’ ability to conduct legitimate business, particularly at a time when advertising revenue is falling and audiences are shifting toward video content.

While the EU believes publishers have suffered losses due to the policy, it did not provide figures or name specific outlets.

Google, in response, said its policies aim to protect users from malicious actors who exploit trusted publishers’ rankings to promote low-quality or misleading content.

The Commission said it intends to conclude the probe within 12 months.

This is the latest in a series of regulatory actions against Google by the EU. In September, Brussels fined the company 2.95 billion euros, prompting a sharp response from President Trump and renewed tariff threats against Europe.

Earlier in 2024, the EU accused Google of favouring its own services in search results and restricting app developers on the Google Play Store from directing users to cheaper offers outside the platform.

Under the Digital Markets Act, confirmed violations can lead to fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover, which may rise to 20% for repeat offenders.