Google’s blog post reports the impact following the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union. This legislation aims to level the playing field for smaller service providers by regulating large online platforms. While these changes may have advantages, there are also trade-offs to consider.
For instance, Google cites Google Search as an example where direct search results may need to be removed to comply with the law. This affects industries like air travel, accommodation, and local businesses, where users could previously compare prices and additional information directly. This shift benefits intermediary websites, as search queries will now redirect there instead. Google claims that only a few websites benefit from this, and the information is often incomplete.
Furthermore, Google found that traffic on intermediary websites has significantly increased while direct websites for airlines, hotels, local businesses, and restaurants have seen a decrease. This results in traffic now heading to intermediary websites instead of service providers (previously through Google), potentially causing consumers to incur higher costs, as seen with premium services like Google Maps.
Google acknowledges that previously, Google Search aimed to make information retrieval easier by directing users to service provider websites. However, with changing competition control perspectives reverting to the past, these adjustments are bound to have repercussions. Nevertheless, Google asserts that it will continue providing transparent information following the DMA compliance, ensuring users understand the services and necessary steps for future interactions.
TLDR: Google reports on the impact of the Digital Markets Act in the EU, which affects search engine results by redirecting traffic to intermediary websites, potentially leading to increased costs for consumers. Despite the changes, Google remains committed to providing transparency and user understanding.
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