By Edith Hancock


A group of European comparison sites hit out at changes Alphabet's Google made to its search results across the European Union, in a bid to persuade regulators to fine the tech giant for what they see as violations of the bloc's new digital antitrust rules.

The companies, including Germany's Idealo and Sweden's PriceRunner, said in an open letter that Google's changes "fail to address the fundamental problems the [Digital Markets Act] is meant to solve."

Under the DMA, which some of the world's largest technology companies had to comply with since March, Google is banned from favoring its own products and services, such as Google Shopping, on Google Search over services from smaller rivals. The company has been in talks for months with a broad range of groups that rely on its search results over how best to comply with the rules.

"Google is simply being asked to stop self-preferencing so that competition can take place freely, to the benefit of consumers," the letter said. "But Google Shopping, one of Google's greatest profit drives, is simply too lucrative for Google to do so."

When asked for comment, Google pointed to a Nov. 26 blog post outlining the changes it has made to its search results this year and additional changes it is testing, saying it had significantly redesigned some features and completely removed others in Europe.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is investigating Google over concerns its search results aren't in line with the DMA. However, officials have yet to issue the company with their initial findings, prompting Google to make additional tweaks to its search results in the EU this year.

Google has in recent months also come under fire from price-comparison sites, airlines, hotels and restaurants that argue the way its search results are displayed makes it harder for customers to find them on Google's ubiquitous search engine.

"The Commission has opened proceedings against Google for non-compliance. It must proceed with such proceedings, issue preliminary findings, and impose fines on Google, including periodic penalty payments, to force Google to finally listen and comply," the letter said.


Write to Edith Hancock at edith.hancock@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

12-12-24 0614ET