logo
Google says discord over search results is unresolved; risks EU antitrust fine

Google says discord over search results is unresolved; risks EU antitrust fine

The Star2 days ago
FILE PHOTO: A Google logo is seen at a company research facility in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Alphabet's Google said it failed this week to resolve disagreements with hotels, airlines and specialised search services such as Skyscanner over how it presents search results, putting it at risk of a hefty European Union antitrust fine.
The U.S. tech giant held a July 7-8 workshop with critics to address EU antitrust charges of unfairly favouring its own services such as Google Shopping, Google Hotels and Google Flights over competitors.
The landmark Digital Markets Act seeks to rein in the power of Big Tech, with violations subject to fines as much as 10% of a company's global annual revenue.
Google offered two options at the workshop, likely the last of several before the commission issues a decision on the company's compliance in the coming months. In both options, vertical search service (VSS) such as Skyscanner, Kelkoo and Booking.com would get a box at the top of the search page while hotels, restaurants and airlines would be ranked below them.
"Competing interests continue to pull us in different directions," Google's lawyer Oliver Bethell wrote in a blogpost on LinkedIn on Wednesday.
"While we have invited feedback throughout this process, we now need to bring this debate to an end without the interests of a few being prioritised over the millions of people and businesses in Europe who benefit from Search."
Skyscanner said Google's proposals need more work.
"The latest options on the table introduce significant changes, some of which risk misleading consumers and cementing Google's position at the top of organic results," its CEO Bryan Batista told Reuters.
Thomas Hoppner, a lawyer at Geradin Partners who advises some of Google's complainants, was equally critical.
"Google is shifting the focus to alleged tensions between direct suppliers and intermediaries, diverting attention from the root issue: its own non-compliance, which created these tensions in the first place," he said.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Richard Chang)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports
Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports

The Sun

time35 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports

GOOGLE has agreed to pay about $2.4 billion in a deal to license the technology of artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool Windsurf, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Earlier on Friday, a Google spokesperson told Reuters that the company has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and select members of the coding tool's research and development team to join its DeepMind division, in a move to strengthen itself in the race for AI leadership - REUTERS

Google to Pay $2.4B for AI Coding Tool Windsurf Tech
Google to Pay $2.4B for AI Coding Tool Windsurf Tech

The Sun

time36 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Google to Pay $2.4B for AI Coding Tool Windsurf Tech

GOOGLE has agreed to pay about $2.4 billion in a deal to license the technology of artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool Windsurf, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Earlier on Friday, a Google spokesperson told Reuters that the company has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and select members of the coding tool's research and development team to join its DeepMind division, in a move to strengthen itself in the race for AI leadership - REUTERS

Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports
Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports

FILE PHOTO: The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso/File Photo (Reuters) -Google has agreed to pay about $2.4 billion in a deal to license the technology of artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool Windsurf, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Earlier on Friday, a Google spokesperson told Reuters that the company has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and select members of the coding tool's research and development team to join its DeepMind division, in a move to strengthen itself in the race for AI leadership. (Reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store