Overview

• At the EU-organised Brussels workshop on July 1, Google lawyers Clare Kelly and Oliver Bethell sought explicit instructions from regulators on how to meet DMA requirements.
• Kelly presented evidence that initial DMA-driven changes have made booking flights and hotels more expensive for European users and caused up to a 30% drop in direct traffic for airlines and hotels.
• Google reiterated its concern that the self-preferencing ban under the Digital Markets Act is stifling innovation and degrading search experiences for European consumers.
• Bethell urged the European Commission and industry critics to provide concrete empirical data on the DMA’s costs and benefits to shape practical compliance measures.
• Earlier this month, Google proposed further adjustments to search results to highlight rival services, but competitors say those steps still fall short of ensuring a level playing field.