Google Calls DMA-Driven Change Its 'Largest Reduction in Quality' in 29 Years

gaganghotra_ · x · 2026-09-08

Google says it pushed out its "largest reduction in quality" in its 29-year history to comply with the EU DMA's requirements for vertical search services (VSS).

Search journalist Barry Schwartz mocks the framing: Google claims to measure quality by traffic sent to hotel websites and search activity—yet AI Overviews and AI Mode themselves reduce direct traffic to sites while prompting users to run more searches. The episode highlights the direct collision between regulatory compliance and Google's AI search products.

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