Google is changing the way Search works in Europe as it attempts to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act, removing or reducing some of the rich result features that previously showed prices, availability, and direct booking options inside the search page.
The company says the changes will make Search less convenient for some people because they may need to click through additional comparison services or repeat searches before reaching the business they want.
The adjustments follow regulatory action over concerns that Google gave its own services more prominent placement than rival platforms.
| Detail | Current situation |
|---|---|
| Regulation | EU Digital Markets Act |
| Main issue | Preferential placement of Google's own services |
| Search changes | Reduced integrated rich results |
| Affected areas | Hotels, flights, restaurants, local services |
| Third party visibility | Increased |
| Earlier penalties mentioned | €890 million combined |
| Google's claimed traffic impact | 30% drop in some direct booking traffic |
| Region | Europe |
Rich Search Features Are Being Reduced
Google Search has long displayed information directly inside its results pages.
Depending on the query, this can include prices, hotel availability, flight information, restaurant options, maps, filters, and direct booking links.
In Europe, some of these integrated modules are now being reduced or changed.
The intention is to give third party comparison sites and booking services more equal visibility instead of allowing Google's own search features to dominate the page.
As a result, people searching for hotels, flights, restaurants, or local services may see more links to intermediaries rather than direct business information.
EU Regulators Objected to Preferential Placement
European regulators have argued that Google can disadvantage competitors by placing its own services more prominently within Search.
The concern is especially important because Google controls both the main search platform and several services that compete with external companies.
Under the Digital Markets Act, large technology platforms designated as gatekeepers face stricter rules designed to prevent them from favoring their own products.
The penalties discussed in the supplied information total €890 million.
That includes a €430 million penalty related to Play Store practices and a €460 million penalty connected to Search.
Google Says Search Will Become Less Convenient
Google does not agree that the required changes improve the experience.
The company says some people will now have to navigate through additional websites or repeat parts of their search before reaching a hotel, restaurant, airline, or other service provider.
Google has described the European compliance changes as a major reduction in the quality of its Search service.
That is Google's assessment, however, rather than an independent measurement of overall search quality.
The changes may benefit comparison platforms that previously received less prominent placement, even if some people find the extra steps inconvenient.
Third Party Booking Sites Could Gain More Visibility
One direct consequence is greater exposure for external booking and comparison services.
Platforms that compare hotel prices, flights, restaurants, and other local services can appear more prominently because Google is reducing the visibility of some of its own integrated tools.
This changes the path between a search and a final purchase.
Instead of moving directly from Google to a hotel or merchant, people may be routed through another service first.
That could benefit intermediaries while potentially increasing the commissions paid by businesses that depend on them.
Google Warns Local Businesses Could Lose Direct Traffic
Google says earlier changes made to comply with European rules had already reduced free direct booking traffic to some hotels and local businesses by around 30%.
That figure comes from Google and should be treated as a company claim rather than an independently verified market wide result.
The company argues that businesses may receive fewer direct visits if searchers are sent through price comparison and booking platforms first.
For local operators, that could mean less visibility and potentially higher costs if more bookings arrive through services that charge commission.
Search Regulation Is Changing Product Design
The dispute shows how regulation can affect not only business practices but also the design of consumer products.
The European Commission is pushing Google to provide competitors with fairer access to prominent search placement.
Google, meanwhile, argues that some of the features regulators object to are useful because they reduce the number of steps required to find information or complete a booking.
Both issues can exist at the same time.
A more open search page may improve competition while still making some individual searches less direct.
The Changes Apply to Europe
The new search behavior is tied to European regulatory requirements and does not necessarily mean the same interface will appear in other regions.
Google is adapting its European product to avoid further penalties under the Digital Markets Act.
The long term effect will depend on how people respond to the new search layout, whether businesses see meaningful changes in direct traffic, and whether European regulators consider the adjustments sufficient.
For now, the clearest change is that Search in Europe is becoming less centered on Google's own integrated services and more dependent on third party comparison and booking platforms.
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