Google might reshuffle search results to try to dodge fines in the EU
TL;DR
Google is testing changes to its search results in Europe to display rival services more prominently for hotels, flights, and other topics, aiming to address EU antitrust concerns and avoid potential fines.
Google is planning to test changes to how it displays search results for certain topics, nearly a year after it was charged with violating antitrust rules in the European Union, Reuters reports. The shift will show top-ranked rival services for hotels, flights, restaurants, and transportation higher up in results, rather than prioritizing Google's own services like Google Flights. It will be rolling out soon "across Europe," starting with results for lodgings, with "flights and other services" following later.
This update could address one of the core issues the European Commission highlighted when it ruled last year that Google was in vio …