Germany drops antitrust probe into Google News Showcase service after the internet giant made “significant changes” to alleviate competition concerns.
The decision comes after Google made a major concession earlier this year by proposing to omit “Google News Showcase” items from its regular search results.
“Google has responded to our concerns and implemented important adjustments to the benefit of publishers,” said Andreas Mundt, president of Germany’s Federal Cartel Office.
“It will continue to be irrelevant for the ranking of the search results whether or not a publisher participates in Showcase.”
Google did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
The “Google News Showcase,” which debuted in 2020, allows participating publications to prominently display their journalistic work on a specified platform.
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However, Germany’s antitrust regulator launched an investigation last year after a complaint was made by the publishing business Corint Media, which oversees radio and television station licences as well as online news sites.
The publisher was concerned that news organisations that had not signed an agreement with Google would have their content pushed down in search results.
In response to the investigation, Google stated in January that it will discontinue its intention to include Showcase stories in regular search results.
Google also underlined that Showcase partners would be allowed to fully exploit their so-called neighbouring rights, which allow media outlets to seek compensation for the usage of their content, according to the regulator.
Big tech giants like Alphabet-owned Google, Meta, and Amazon are being scrutinised by regulators all around the world for their dominant positions.
In January, Germany’s Federal Cartel Office designated Google as a corporation of “paramount significance across markets,” clearing the path for regulators to crack down on any potentially anti-competitive behaviour.
It is still investigating Google Maps, citing worries that the platform’s built-in restrictions gave it an unfair edge over competitors.
