Google is set to raise concerns on Tuesday over the European Union’s sweeping Digital Markets Act (DMA), warning that the rules designed to curb Big Tech dominance are unintentionally harming innovation and degrading the online experience for European users. At a workshop organised by the European Commission, the U.S. tech giant will also call on regulators to offer clearer guidance and ask critics to back their claims with concrete evidence.
The company faces growing regulatory scrutiny under the DMA, particularly over allegations that it favours its own services—like Google Shopping, Flights, and Hotels—at the expense of rivals. These charges could attract fines of up to 10% of Google’s global annual turnover. Although Google has recently proposed further changes to its search interface to give more visibility to competitors, critics argue the modifications still fall short of levelling the playing field.
Clare Kelly, a Google lawyer, will tell the Commission that reforms already implemented have led to negative outcomes, including higher travel ticket prices for European users and up to 30% drops in direct booking traffic for local airlines, hotels, and restaurants. She adds that consumers are increasingly dissatisfied with what she terms “clunky workarounds” created by the new compliance rules.
Another Google legal representative, Oliver Bethell, is expected to press for more practical, real-world guidance on compliance. Stressing the need for actionable clarity, he will ask both regulators and critics to define what successful adherence to the rules looks like. “We need help identifying the areas where we should focus. That means bringing real evidence of costs and benefits that we can take account of with the Commission,” Bethell will say. The workshop, which includes EU regulators and Google’s rivals, begins at 7:00 GMT.