Google is under EU antitrust investigation over its spam policy, which allegedly demotes legitimate publisher content and threatens digital competition.
The European Commission has launched a formal antitrust probe into Google’s site reputation abuse policy, part of its broader spam prevention efforts. Regulators are concerned that the policy unfairly penalizes news publishers and content platforms, potentially violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Google Faces EU Scrutiny Over Search Ranking Practices
On November 13, 2025, the European Commission announced an antitrust investigation into Google’s site reputation abuse policy, which targets parasite SEO—a tactic where third-party content is published on high-ranking websites to manipulate search results. While Google claims the policy is designed to improve search quality, publishers argue it has unfairly demoted their content, reducing visibility and ad revenue.
The Commission’s preliminary findings suggest that Google’s policy may interfere with publishers’ ability to monetize their platforms, especially when they collaborate with commercial partners. Regulators are now examining whether the policy violates the DMA’s provisions on fair competition and business freedom.
Google responded by calling the probe “misguided,” warning that it could harm millions of users by degrading search quality. The company insists its anti-spam measures are necessary to combat manipulation and maintain trust in its search engine.
This investigation adds to Google’s growing list of regulatory challenges in Europe, where it has already faced billions in fines over advertising and shopping services. If found guilty of breaching the DMA, Google could face penalties of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
Sources: Times of India The Times of India, TechCrunch TechCrunch, The Star The Star.
