Google Faces EU Probe Over Alleged 'Demotion' of Commercial Content from News Media
A growing concern in the European Union has led to an investigation into Alphabet Inc.'s Google Search, with regulators accusing the tech giant of unfairly demoting commercial content from news media sites. The European Commission's executive arm has launched a probe into Google's anti-spam policy, which some argue is having a detrimental effect on traditional media outlets.
According to the EU, this "demotion" means that certain sponsored or advertiser-created content is being pushed down the search results pages, effectively rendering it invisible to users. This has significant implications for news publishers, who rely on advertising revenue to stay afloat in an increasingly digital landscape.
The commission's investigation stems from evidence suggesting that Google's policies are not treating news publishers equally. Media partnerships with businesses selling goods or services are considered normal commercial practice in the offline world, but some argue they should also exist online in a fair marketplace like Google.
For instance, if a newspaper partners with Nike to offer discounts, it could see its sub-domain being demoted to a point where users cannot find it anymore. This would have a direct impact on the newspaper's traffic and revenue.
"We are concerned that Google's policies do not allow news publishers to be treated in a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory manner in its search results," said Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition policies.
The commission will request evidence from publishers on any impacts they have experienced as a result of suspected breaches of fair practices. The investigation aims to ensure that news publishers are not losing out on important revenues at a difficult time for the industry.
Google has hit back at the EU's probe, calling it "misguided" and "without merit." The company claims its anti-spam policy is designed to build trustworthy results and fight deceptive pay-for-play tactics that degrade Google Search listings.
The investigation marks a significant development in the ongoing regulatory saga surrounding Google's dominance in the tech sector. With fines of up to 20% of revenue possible if Google is found to be practising systematic non-compliance, the stakes are high for the tech giant.
A growing concern in the European Union has led to an investigation into Alphabet Inc.'s Google Search, with regulators accusing the tech giant of unfairly demoting commercial content from news media sites. The European Commission's executive arm has launched a probe into Google's anti-spam policy, which some argue is having a detrimental effect on traditional media outlets.
According to the EU, this "demotion" means that certain sponsored or advertiser-created content is being pushed down the search results pages, effectively rendering it invisible to users. This has significant implications for news publishers, who rely on advertising revenue to stay afloat in an increasingly digital landscape.
The commission's investigation stems from evidence suggesting that Google's policies are not treating news publishers equally. Media partnerships with businesses selling goods or services are considered normal commercial practice in the offline world, but some argue they should also exist online in a fair marketplace like Google.
For instance, if a newspaper partners with Nike to offer discounts, it could see its sub-domain being demoted to a point where users cannot find it anymore. This would have a direct impact on the newspaper's traffic and revenue.
"We are concerned that Google's policies do not allow news publishers to be treated in a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory manner in its search results," said Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition policies.
The commission will request evidence from publishers on any impacts they have experienced as a result of suspected breaches of fair practices. The investigation aims to ensure that news publishers are not losing out on important revenues at a difficult time for the industry.
Google has hit back at the EU's probe, calling it "misguided" and "without merit." The company claims its anti-spam policy is designed to build trustworthy results and fight deceptive pay-for-play tactics that degrade Google Search listings.
The investigation marks a significant development in the ongoing regulatory saga surrounding Google's dominance in the tech sector. With fines of up to 20% of revenue possible if Google is found to be practising systematic non-compliance, the stakes are high for the tech giant.
... Like how news sites rely on ads and Google demoting them from search results doesn't seem right 
. I mean, what's next? If a website partners with Nike to sell shoes, they should be able to show up in search too? It feels kinda unfair for small media outlets 
. The EU is trying to protect their interests and make sure news sites are treated fairly online 
. And yeah, news publishers do rely on ad revenue, but that doesn't mean they should be getting preferential treatment just because they're 'news' 
. I get where the EU's coming from, but if Google is being too harsh, it could stifle innovation and keep them out of the online market altogether. Maybe a more nuanced approach would work better? 
. I mean, I get it, traditional media is struggling, but this isn't Google's fault. They're just trying to do their job, not stifle innovation or anything 
. Can we just let them work out their own algorithm without EU interference? 
Like they're trying to help out traditional media outlets or something. But seriously, who doesn't love a good freebie, right? 
this is crazy! 
that's where the money is! 
. Like they're helping them out or something. News outlets need that cash to stay afloat and this just gonna push 'em further down the drain 
. And what's with Google calling it "misguided" when it's pretty clear their policies are unfair? 
. Google needs to prove that their anti-spam policy isn't hurting anyone and that they're not being unfair in how they rank search results. It's not just about fairness, it's also about transparency and accountability 
. Its like, they're trying to level the playing field but now its creating a whole new problem. What if you have a sick gaming community on your site and its not showing up in search results? 
Its gonna make it super hard for those sites to stay afloat. I'm all for transparency but I think Googles algorithm should be tweaked so news sites can still get the attention they need 
.
i mean i get it google wants to keep users from getting bombarded with ads, but can't they find a balance? 
. Can't say I'm surprised tho 
It's not like Google has been trying to help news outlets or anything... They're basically saying that their anti-spam policy is all about keeping users in mind, but let's be real, it's just another excuse for them to further control the online landscape. 
i think its unfair that theyre treated differently from other businesses online media partnerships should exist in a fair marketplace but google seems to be treating them unfairly
. I mean, if a newspaper partners with Nike, it should be able to offer those discounts and earn some ad revenue from users who are actually interested in that stuff 
" And Google is all "Uh, I'm just trying to keep it real and remove fake stuff from my search results, no biggie!" 
Like, Google's anti-spam policy is kinda like that one aunt at the family reunion – it's a little harsh but you get where she's coming from, right? 
.