Technology Google Says It Will "Degrade the User Experience for Europeans" to Comply With EU Search Rules

[lokamoka820]

Content source

https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/14/google-says-it-will-degrade-the-user-experience-for-europeans-to-comply-with-eu-search-rules/

In response to antitrust regulators, Google is introducing changes to the search results it provides to users in Europe, stating that the move will "degrade the user experience for Europeans".

The company is implementing these changes in order to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act after having been fined €460 million ($534 million) earlier this year for giving increased prominence to its own services.

Google cautions that the changes will benefit online intermediaries at the cost of local businesses, while the EU says they will create a level playing field. Users outside of the EU will remain unaffected.

 

[Marko :)]

Before introducing the changes in Europe, Google stated that it had tested them with a certain proportion of its users. The company notes that these users were dissatisfied with the way the search results were displayed to them.

Google: How are you finding the experience?
- good.
Google: How about now? Is it miserable?
- nah, it's still good.
Google: Okay, now? Is it miserable now?
- oh God Google, please stop... results are pathetic and miserable... please stop
Google: That's it! Thanks!

I don't think Google can become worse than it already is. Beside, they seem to copy Apple tactic of making their services worse in hope we'll put pressure on the EU to allow them do whatever the hell they want. Unfortunately for them, it's not how it works here.