Hello, community! It seems that everyone has already started to forget about the European Digital Markets Act, also known as the DMA. However, we are still feeling its consequences. And some recent news clearly shows that the directive is gradually expanding to services that had not been affected much before.
Today, we are talking about what has recently changed in Google due to the DMA. Before we begin, let us remind you that we have already covered how the Digital Markets Act affected META. We recommend checking it out!
Why will Google search results change?
Since around the end of February, users in the EU have started seeing a slightly changed version of Google search results. At first glance, it looks almost the same as usual, but there are still several fundamental differences intended to support better competition within the search engine.
Let’s start with the reasons. Why is all of this happening in the first place? Of course, the main reason is the DMA — the Digital Markets Act, which was officially adopted back in 2022. However, due to various legislative mechanisms, some changes are only beginning now, in 2026. And it is quite likely that this law will continue reshaping markets in the coming years.
So why do Google and other corporations comply with it at all? The reason is simple — fines that can reach up to 10% of annual revenue. So companies have two options:
- Comply with the new requirements and implement all the changes proposed by the European Commission.
- Or leave the EU market and lose potential revenue.
For most companies, the choice is quite obvious. Although in reality, this is a choice between two bad options. Some of the changes imposed by the EU may already negatively affect companies’ revenue. But that is a completely different story.
How exactly will Google search results change?
As for the specific steps the corporation decided to take, the main goal is very simple: to increase the number of platforms that can offer their products. From now on, users in the EU will see the following in search results:
- Not only products from Google, but also products from other companies. They will all be displayed next to each other. This should reduce the corporation’s influence on the user’s decision.
- More competing websites will appear in the results for commercial queries.
- Even more links to external resources will appear at the top of the results page. In other words, fewer results will redirect users to Google’s own products.
However, for the most part, all these changes are only visually noticeable, but their impact should not be underestimated. This can influence the user’s decision, because users choose what they see.
So these changes are highly important. First of all, they will help attract consumer attention to platforms that previously remained in Google’s shadow. This applies not only to commerce, but also to various services. Overall, the industry should benefit from this. After all, competition is the driver of progress.
The EU is forcing Google to “reveal its secrets”
Now, let’s talk about the latest news. Since April 2026, new statements from EU representatives have started spreading. According to reports, the Commission intends to put pressure on Google to share some of its key information. Specifically, data on search queries, clicks, internal website rankings, and more.
According to the initiative, Google would not share this information with the public. And certainly not with affiliates. The idea is for the company to open up statistics to representatives of other search engines so they can improve their products. The goal remains the same — to promote competition. This should help new search engines enter the market and compete with the giant.
Do we believe this will help create a second Google? Definitely not. Because this is not just about statistics or algorithms. First and foremost, it is about user trust and brand reputation. So the emergence of a “new Google” would take decades. And that is assuming ChatGPT does not overshadow the popularity of search engines altogether.
Conclusion
So, as we can see, in just a few months the DMA has created full-scale storms inside Google. And judging by the latest news, it does not plan to stop. All that remains is to observe, draw conclusions, and optimize ad campaigns for the new reality. After all, any such change is an opportunity to generate additional profit.
Have you noticed any changes in how the search engine works? Share your observations in our Telegram community, where we always keep our finger on the pulse of the industry!
Sincerely, Your Geek!
Frequently Asked Questions
This is related to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which forces major companies to ensure fairer competition. Failure to comply with the requirements can lead to significant fines, so Google is adapting its algorithms to the new rules.
Search results will include more third-party services and websites alongside Google products. There will also be more external links at the top of the page, reducing the dominance of the company’s own services.
Partly, yes, because other search engines will gain more access to data and visibility. But real competition will take time, since user trust and brand strength play a key role, not just algorithms.