Google is changing how search results appear for EU citizens
- Reference: 1705578314
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/01/18/google_search_update_dma/
- Source link:
The reason? It is preparing for the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules scheduled to come into play in March. Under the DMA, Google is a classified as a " [2]Gatekeeper ," meaning it holds "considerable market power."
Changes to search results will be the most visible alteration for the majority of users. Where Google might show a link to several businesses – for example, hotels – it will add a space for comparison sites and a way for users to refine their searches to include comparison sites.
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The company said: "For categories like hotels, we will also start testing a dedicated space for comparison sites and direct suppliers to show more detailed individual results including images, star ratings and more."
[4]
[5]
The result is that some other services, such as its own third party booking service, Google Flights, will be cut from search pages.
Google is also adding choice screens to Android phones to allow users to select a default search engine. The same type of choice might also turn up when you set up Chrome on a desktop or iOS device.
[6]
There will be extra consents for linked services – European users can expect to see some additional consent banners regarding data sharing. According to Google, opting out of linking services could result in limited functionality or some features stopping working altogether.
Google has yet to give any clarity on what exactly will stop working should a European user opt out of linking and sharing their data between services. The Register also asked the company if consent would be opt-out or opt-in, and will update should Google respond.
Finally, Google is planning to introduce a Data Portability API for developers to augment the Chocolate Factory's current Google Takeout service, which permits users to download or take a copy of their data from the company's products.
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Google [8]was designated a Gatekeeper under the EU's DMA in 2022. The purpose of the DMA is to curb the power of the Gatekeepers and prevent them from promoting their own services ahead of competitors. Other companies, including Microsoft and Apple, [9]were similarly designated as gatekeepers . Microsoft is in the process of [10]making changes to Windows to appease the regulators.
[11]What do Apple, Meta, TikTok have in common? Fighting off Europe's stiff antitrust rules
[12]Meta killing off Instagram, Messenger cross-platform chatting
[13]Biden urged to do something about Europe 'unfairly' targeting American tech
[14]Windows users can soon ditch Bing, Edge, other bundleware – but only in the EU
Google said the processes were a work in progress ahead of the looming March deadline. It was also unable to resist expressing disquiet at the changes required:
"While we support many of the DMA's ambitions around consumer choice and interoperability, the new rules involve difficult trade-offs, and we're concerned that some of these rules will reduce the choices available to people and businesses in Europe."
As we go looking for the world's smallest violin, it's worth noting that the revamp will only apply to European users. Other authorities and regulatory bodies worldwide will be paying close attention to how this plays out in the region over the coming year. ®
Updated to add:
"A Google spokesperson told us that: “The banners will be presented to users to make a choice to opt in or not." While Google was not specific about all services, it did give the [15]example of reservations made in search not showing up in Google Maps if the services weren’t linked, and a lack of personalization in a user’s Discover feed should Search, YouTube and Chrome not be linked.
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/an-update-on-our-preparations-for-the-dma/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/19/congress_eu_dma_complaint/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZalZQGT@GgReI3ybYSZxXwAAAUo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZalZQGT@GgReI3ybYSZxXwAAAUo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZalZQGT@GgReI3ybYSZxXwAAAUo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZalZQGT@GgReI3ybYSZxXwAAAUo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZalZQGT@GgReI3ybYSZxXwAAAUo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/06/eu_dsa_dma_laws_big_tech/
[9] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_4328
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/17/windows_bing_edge_eu_dma/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/17/apple_ec_dma/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/05/meta_instagram_messenger/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/19/congress_eu_dma_complaint/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/17/windows_bing_edge_eu_dma/
[15] https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/14202510
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
re: direct hotel booking (with discount)
A measure towards this would be making contractual clauses forcing accommodation providers to offer their cheapest price through a booking site null and void by law.
Re: re: direct hotel booking (with discount)
Then we will all end up paying the same price as people who are wealthy or lazy enough to not care about discounts through shopping around.
re: opt-out consent
There is no such thing: having to opt-out == no consent.
Google search...
Yeah, that's what it used to do. Now you just get fed personalised crap. Google will be DMA compliant up to its ass but unless you agree to allow Google to give you a good butt fuck, bet pretty much nothing will work.
Sorry, but I'm still pissed because my English device language phone showed me a completely different set of results (useless crap results) from a Spanish device language phone (exactly what I was looking for) for the same effin query.
And dont get me going on about different results for the same query on a different tab.
Mind you, Bing still cant find me and I have a unique name combo.
Re: Google search...
Mind you, Bing still cant find me and I have a unique name combo.
And you're complaining?!
Re: Google search...
Well if Google thinks you don't speak Spanish, I can understand that they wouldn't return the same results. That said, you can can ask to see results in Spanish in the search settings.
"opting out of linking services could result in limited functionality"
Yes. I understand that, and I accept that.
What I want is the choice. Let me see what I get when you're not raping my personal life first. If that's not good enough, then I'll think about giving you more, but it will become my choice, my privilege.
My decision, not yours.
Re: "opting out of linking services could result in limited functionality"
What I want is the choice. Let me see what I get when you're not raping my personal life first.
No. Otherwise you might notice that having your personal data doesn't improve search at all. It's only there to help us charge advertisers slightly more to populate your searches.
"some of these rules will reduce the choices available to people and businesses in Europe."
What part of your choices being reduced do you not understand? Since we can't eat your personal life and absorb it into the hivemind, we won't know that you went next door to the Big Gay Manhole Bar last Tuesday, and can't recommend you similar places at random when your wife searches on your PC.
reduce the choices available to people and businesses in Europe
Given the decline of Google in recent years, where searches are stuffed with spam, it just stops trying after a few pages of results, and it's unable to "see" a phrase I'm looking at in another tab...
...I think choices have already been reduced. It's like "take this SEO junk and stop hassling me".
Brexit ?
Not quite sure how this flies in the UK
They just moved the tricks to maps
I don't use Google search since it stopped being useful a while back due to ads.
But maps recently took a huge turn for the worst. At least in Spain where I am. They now don't show businesses which they don't have ads for, however close. Clearly monopoly abuse, but also makes maps useless since it only has big bizz that pay the Google tax. That's passed on so I try to avoid any bizz who uses Google: I know their rates.
They vary rates, (despite this being illegal) essentially taking all the area under the supply curve, so pretty much any bizz that's in bed with Google for marketing is as expensive as it could be.
Websites
They could make the websites of hotels and the like more prominent so I can book directly instead of having to wade through half a dozen scapers and booking services - some of which don't even cover the business I'm interested in.