lobbyists-push-eu-for-fair-google-search-changes

Lobbying organizations representing airlines, hotels, and retailers have called on European Union tech regulators to ensure that Google considers their perspectives, not just those of major intermediaries, when implementing changes to adhere to significant tech regulations.

 

The Airlines for Europe group, including Air France KLM and British Airways owner IAG, along with hotel groups Hotrec and European Hotel Forum, as well as EuroCommerce, Ecommerce Europe, and Independent Retail Europe, voiced their concerns in March about the potential impact of new regulations.

 

The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) imposes a set of guidelines on Google and other tech giants to enhance user choice and foster fair competition.

 

However, these groups fear that the proposed adjustments could adversely affect their revenues.

 

In a joint letter addressed to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and EU industry chief Thierry Breton dated May 22, they expressed heightened apprehension since their initial communication.

 

"Our industries are deeply concerned that the proposed solutions and requirements for DMA implementation could exacerbate discrimination," they stated.

 

They further warned that the proposed changes might significantly reduce companies' direct sales revenues by granting undue prominence to powerful online intermediaries, thereby favoring them unfairly.