• Alphabet's Google proposes modifications to search results to comply with EU Digital Markets Act regulations
  • Changes aim to create equal display boxes for third-party vertical search engines and Google's own services
  • Company faces multiple antitrust actions globally, including a recent €2.95 billion EU fine for ad technology dominance

Alphabet Inc.'s Google is preparing to test changes to its search engine results as it navigates European Union antitrust charges, according to people familiar with the matter. The modifications come as the tech giant faces increasing regulatory pressure on both sides of the Atlantic, with the EU moving particularly aggressively to enforce its landmark Digital Markets Act.

Google's latest proposal, which follows feedback from vertical search engines and price comparison sites, would create equal display boxes for both third-party services and Google's own offerings like Google Shopping and Google Hotels. The winning bid in these display units would be determined by what the company describes as "objective, non-discriminatory criteria," though specific details remain under discussion with regulators.

"We're working constructively with the European Commission to ensure our services comply with the DMA while continuing to provide helpful results for users," a Google spokesperson said when reached for comment. The company has previously warned that further search changes could prioritize "commercial interests of a small set of intermediaries over European businesses who want to sell directly to their customers."

These developments follow the European Commission's €2.95 billion fine against Google in September 2025 for abusing its dominance in ad technology. In response to that ruling, Google proposed compliance measures including giving publishers options to set different minimum prices for different bidders and increasing interoperability between its advertising tools.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, a U.S. federal court entered a final judgment on December 5, 2025, limiting how Google can structure search distribution agreements to one year and preventing default-locking across multiple access points. The order also mandates data-sharing with search competitors, including access to Google's web index and user data—requirements Google is challenging through an appeal filed on January 16, 2026.

Industry analysts note that the EU is moving faster than U.S. regulators in some areas, particularly regarding AI integration into competition frameworks. The January 2026 EU proceedings on AI and search data access could have "bigger long-term implications" than U.S. cases for how AI search products develop, according to regulatory experts following the matter.

Judge Brinkema is expected to issue her decision on the U.S. ad tech case early in the first quarter of 2026, while the EU may issue its non-compliance fine related to Play Store anti-steering rules in the same timeframe. The outcome of these proceedings will significantly influence how AI search products access information and compete in the evolving digital landscape.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timeline for Google's initial proposal. The company modified its proposal following July 2025 feedback, not in July 2025.