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By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – More than 20 price comparison websites across Europe criticized Google’s changes to its search results on Wednesday, saying they still did not comply with EU technology rules and called on regulators to bring charges against the Alphabet (NASDAQ: ) unit.
For more than a year, Google has been talking to comparison sites, hotels, airlines, restaurants and retailers about how to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which prohibits it from favoring their products and services on its platform.
Last month, it announced its latest proposal, which includes expanded and equally formatted units to allow users to choose between comparison sites and supplier websites.
He could also bring back his old ‘ten blue ties’ format from years ago as an alternative if he can’t get along with his rivals. This format is now being tested in Germany, Belgium and Estonia.
Price comparison websites, which include Germany’s Idealo and billiger.de, France’s Le Guide, PriceRunner, Kelkoo and kieskeurig.nl and trovaprezzi.it, say Google did not listen to their feedback.
“Google has simply, repeatedly, ignored this feedback, and instead continued to repeat the same non-standard solution for months,” they said in an open letter.
“If Google hasn’t taken the feedback into account after more than 100 events, it can only mean one thing: Google is deliberately not respecting the DMA.”
When asked for comment, Google referred to its Nov. 26 blog post where it outlined the many changes it made over the past year to comply with the DMA and find a solution.
The sites have called on the European Commission to act against Google.
“The Commission has initiated proceedings against Google for non-compliance. It must continue to do so, issue preliminary findings and impose fines on Google, including periodic penalties, to compel Google to finally listen and act,” they said.
