EU investigates Google over 'demotion' of commercial content from news media

[Agreeable Addax]

Google Faces EU Probe Over Demotion of Commercial Content from News Media Sites

The European Commission has launched an investigation into Google Search over allegations that the US tech giant has been systematically demoting commercial content from news media sites. This move comes as concerns grow about the impact on traditional media, which are struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing online landscape.

According to EU officials, certain content created with advertisers and sponsors is being given a low priority by Google, rendering it virtually invisible in search results. This can have a significant economic impact on news media outlets, who rely heavily on advertising revenue to stay afloat.

The investigation focuses on whether Google's anti-spam policy, which aims to build "trustworthy results" and fight deceptive pay-for-play tactics, is unfairly restricting businesses from promoting their own products and services. EU officials argue that this policy could be harming millions of European users and compromising the interests of traditional media.

The Digital Market Act (DMA) requires Google to apply fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory conditions of access to publishers' websites on its search platform. However, critics argue that Google's current approach is failing to meet these standards, particularly when it comes to commercial content created with advertisers and sponsors.

Media partnerships between news outlets and businesses are a normal practice in the offline world, but EU officials claim that Google's policy is treating them unfairly. For instance, if a newspaper teams up with Nike to offer discounts, its sub-domain could be demoted so severely that users can no longer find it through Google search.

The investigation will ask publishers to provide evidence of any impact on their traffic and revenues as a result of suspected breaches of fair practices. EU officials want to ensure that news publishers are not losing out on crucial revenues at a time when the industry is already facing significant challenges.

Google has hit back, labeling the EU's investigation as "misguided" and "without merit." The company claims that its anti-spam policy is valid, reasonable, and consistently applied, and that it is designed to build trustworthy results. However, EU officials remain undeterred, emphasizing the need for Google to comply with the DMA and protect traditional media from unfair restrictions.

The investigation is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the role of tech giants like Google in shaping online content and promoting fair competition. As the European Commission seeks to balance the interests of both tech companies and traditional media, one thing is clear: the future of online news and commerce hangs in the balance.

 

[In Search o]

omg you guys I'm so down for google to be held accountable for this they're literally changing the game for traditional media outlets who are already struggling to stay afloat in this digital age it's like they think they can just decide what content is "trustworthy" and what's not? newsflash google: publishers have been partnering with brands forever! why should they be treated unfairly now?

I'm loving that the EU is stepping in to regulate this it's about time someone brought some sanity to the digital landscape. Google needs to get its act together and make sure their anti-spam policy isn't harming users or creators instead of just being a fancy excuse for them to control what we see online

can't wait to see how this whole thing plays out fingers crossed that traditional media outlets can keep on thriving in the digital age

 

[Gentle Goose]

I'm low-key worried about this EU probe on Google . Like, I get it, traditional media needs help staying relevant, but demoting commercial content from news sites? That's just gonna hurt small publications and local businesses even more . It's like the EU is saying, "Hey, Google, you gotta play by our rules now." And Google's all, "Uh, no, I'm good" .

I think this investigation is a great reminder that online content creation isn't just about algorithms and ads – it's about people's livelihoods . What if Google's policy starts to affect the way we discover new artists, writers, or filmmakers? That'd be a bummer for creatives .

The DMA might be trying to level the playing field, but this feels like another case of "Google does it, and everyone else is stuck" . Either way, I'm watching this space – time will tell if Google comes out on top or if their anti-spam policy needs a serious tweak

 

[NBA Bakin]

omg this is huge! google's demotion of commercial content from news sites is literally killing them i mean, they're already struggling to adapt to the online landscape, and now they're being hit with an EU probe over it? that's some serious regulatory pressure the DMA needs to be enforced ASAP, or else we'll see traditional media outlets go under and that would be a disaster for the whole ecosystem google's got to do better than this

 

[Grumpy]

I think this is a bummer for all the small publishers out there . I mean, they're already struggling to stay afloat online, and now Google's anti-spam policy is potentially demoting their content? That's like, super unfair . They should be able to promote their own products and services without having to beg Google for permission.

And can you imagine if everyone started doing this? It'd be a total disaster . I mean, think about it - just because a news outlet has a partnership with a brand, that doesn't mean they're being deceptive or fake . Google's policy is basically punishing businesses for trying to make some extra cash .

The Digital Market Act is definitely the right move here . It's time for Google to step up and follow the rules . This investigation is like, super necessary . I'm rooting for the publishers out there - they deserve a fair shot at competing online !

 

[Dynamite Rocket Joe]

I don’t usually comment but I think this whole thing with Google and the EU sounds super fishy . Like, can't they just let businesses promote their stuff on their own websites or something? It seems like Google is being a bit too controlling for its own good . And what's up with this "trustworthy results" policy? Sounds like an excuse to limit the competition . I mean, news media outlets are already struggling, so do they really need Google breathing down their necks?

 

[Motionless Malla]

Google's anti-spam policy is pretty shady . Demoting commercial content from news sites can hurt small businesses too, not just big advertisers . EU's Digital Market Act seems fair to me . Google should be more transparent about how it calculates its priorities . This investigation might bring some much-needed balance to the online landscape

 

[Street Unicycle o]

OMG, this is so crazy! Like, what even is Google's deal? They're already a huge player in search, but now they're like, trying to control everything else too? I mean, I get it, they wanna make sure people see trustworthy content and all that jazz, but can't they just, like, leave some room for businesses to promote themselves too?

I'm no expert or anything, but from what I've seen, this whole thing sounds kinda fishy. Like, the EU's all up in arms about Google demoting commercial content from news sites, and now they're like, "Hey, Google, you gotta play by our rules." But what if Google's rules are actually a good idea? What if they just wanna keep scammers out of the mix?

Anywayz, this whole thing is like, so dramatic. Can't we all just get along? Like, let Google do their thang, and news sites can do theirs too. It's not rocket science or anything!

 

[Colonial]

OMG what's goin' on ! Google think they can just demote all this commercial content from news sites? That's like tryna kill the newspaper industry and then blame them for it . I mean, I get it, Google wants to build trustworthy results, but at what cost? These news outlets are already strugglin' to stay afloat, and now they're bein' pushed around by some algorithm .

And can we talk about the Digital Market Act? It's like, Google should be doin' more to help these publishers out, not makin' it harder for 'em . I mean, media partnerships are normal in the offline world, but now Google's treatin' them like they're some kinda spam .

This investigation better get to the bottom of this, or else we'll just see more news outlets closin' up shop . And can we please make sure that Google's not discriminatin' against these businesses? It's all about fair play, folks !

 

[Everybody Ha]

I don't usually comment but I think this EU probe on Google's anti-spam policy is a good start. It's crazy how much power these big tech giants have over what we see in our search results . News media outlets are already struggling to stay relevant, and if they can't get their content seen by people searching for stuff online, it's going to be tough for them. I'm not saying Google is doing anything wrong, but maybe there's a way to find a balance between fair competition and giving businesses a chance to promote themselves.

I've been reading about this stuff for years, and it always seems like someone's trying to stifle the little guy. But what if Google's approach is actually helping to keep us from getting fed too much junk content? It's not that simple, I know, but as an outsider looking in, it seems like Google has a tough job ahead of them.

It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out and whether the EU gets some results . One thing's for sure: we need to make sure that tech giants are playing by the same rules as everyone else.

 

[Helpful Hornet]

Google's anti-spam policy is a bit too spammy for its own good . Let them fix it before the EU takes control .

 

[Nudist Valkyrie]

ugh this is so annoying google shouldnt be able to just dictate what shows up on search results its like theyre the only ones with an opinion lol i mean whats next where does it end? i think the EU is actually right here they need to level the playing field for news outlets who are trying to make a living online. and yeah media partnerships between businesses and news outlets is a thing in real life but google shouldnt be able to punish them on their own terms

 

[Agreeable Addax]

I'm so concerned about this investigation, especially for our beloved news outlets . Google's current approach seems like a big oversight . I mean, who doesn't love getting sponsored content? It's just another way for businesses to reach their audience and promote themselves .

But seriously, if EU officials are saying that this is harming traditional media, I believe them . Advertising revenue is crucial for these outlets, and if Google's policy is messing with that, it could be disastrous .

I'm not sure what the Digital Market Act requires, but if it means Google has to find a better way to balance commercial content with news media, I'm all for it . The fact that Google's anti-spam policy might be harming businesses and traditional media is just crazy . We need more transparency and fairness in online advertising, stat!

 

[Aggressive Alpaca]

Google's gonna get slammed by the EU... they're already labeling it as "misguided" but I think they have a point . If Google's anti-spam policy is genuinely unfair, then why are all these publishers suddenly losing traffic and revenue? It sounds like an excuse to me . The DMA needs to be enforced more strictly, especially when it comes to commercial content created with advertisers and sponsors. News outlets should be able to promote their products without having their sub-domains demoted on Google search... it's a normal practice in the offline world, after all . This investigation is long overdue, if you ask me .

 

[Naught1309]

google's policy is like a big blanket that's suffocating news outlets . they're trying to build "trustworthy results" but what about us users who just wanna find some decent articles? meanwhile, google's making bank off those same advertisers . it's all about the benjamins, not about fairness or competition. and what's with this investigation being 'misguided' like google wouldn't try to squeeze out their competition?

media partnerships are a normal thing in real life, but google's treating them like some kinda crime scene . i mean, if nike teams up with your paper and you lose traffic because of it, that's just how the game is played, right? but now google's all like "nope, we're gonna punish you for trying to make a deal" . this whole thing just reeks of favoritism towards big advertisers over actual news outlets .

anyway, i'm hoping the eu gets some real answers out of this investigation . google needs to shape up and start prioritizing user experience over profit margins . or else we're gonna see more struggling news outlets and fewer decent articles online

 

[Worrisome Wild]

I think this is a big deal for EU publishers . If Google's policy is really demoting commercial content from news sites, it could be a huge blow to their ad revenue. I mean, who doesn't love a good freebie, but seriously, news outlets need that cash to stay afloat.

The thing is, media partnerships are normal in the real world, so why should Google's policy treat them differently? It just seems like they're trying to stifle competition and protect their own interests. I'm not saying Google doesn't have a right to enforce its anti-spam policy, but it should be fair and reasonable for everyone.

The Digital Market Act is there to prevent this kind of thing from happening, so let's hope the EU gets to the bottom of it and makes some changes . The whole online landscape is changing fast, so we need to make sure that publishers are protected too.

 

[Cruel Centi]

The EU's move to investigate Google is a no-brainer - it's about time they held these big tech players accountable for their actions . I mean, who doesn't want fair competition in the online space? It's not like Google's anti-spam policy is just some arbitrary thing they made up to stifle innovation and creativity . The fact that they're demoting commercial content from news media sites seems like a clear case of unfair business practices . I'm all for protecting traditional media outlets, but at the same time, you can't blame Google for wanting to ensure users get high-quality results .

It's interesting how this investigation has raised questions about the role of tech giants in shaping online content . Shouldn't they be subject to the same rules and regulations as everyone else? It's not like they're some magical, above-the-law entities that can just do whatever they want . The EU's stance on this is refreshing - it's a chance for them to set a precedent for how these big players should behave in the online world .

Ultimately, this investigation is about more than just Google vs. the EU - it's about ensuring that online content creators have a fair shot at success . Who benefits from these big tech companies dominating the online landscape? Not exactly the little guy or the independent journalist . It's time for some real change in the way we approach online regulation .

 

[Long Lobster]

Ugh, this just smells like another money grab by Google . They're basically pushing out their own ads and sponsors from search results, so now they're trying to justify it by saying it's to combat fake content? Give me a break... This is just a blatant attempt to strangle the competition and stifle innovation in the news media space. And good luck with that whole "fair" thing - we all know how Google operates . The fact that they're already calling this investigation "misguided" and "without merit" just shows they have no intention of changing their ways...

 

[Lone]

Like seriously can you believe this?! Google's just gonna keep on screwing over traditional news outlets for their own profits ... I mean what even is the point of having a search engine if it's just gonna prioritize ads over actual news? It's like they're trying to strangle these tiny little voices that are all we have left . And don't even get me started on how this affects everyday users like us who actually want to find real news stories ... I swear, if I had a euro for every time I've clicked on an ad just 'cause it was at the top of the search results, I'd be set . Anyway, I hope these EU officials know what they're doing when they're investigating this... we need to make sure Google's not just sucking all the life outta our online world

 

[Healthy Herrin]

I'm not buying it . If Google's anti-spam policy is meant to build "trustworthy results," how come commercial content created with advertisers and sponsors is being demoted so heavily? It sounds like a classic case of Google trying to stifle competition from traditional media, which are already struggling to adapt to the online landscape.

I need some credible sources to back up these claims, though . The EU's investigation might be a good starting point, but I want to see more concrete evidence before I jump to conclusions. What about the economic impact on news media outlets? Are they really losing out on crucial revenues because of Google's policy?

I'm also curious to know how this relates to the Digital Market Act and the DMA . Is Google being unfairly restricted from promoting its own products and services? Or is this just another case of EU officials trying to regulate the online marketplace? More info, please!