Google has filed a remedies proposal with the European Commission to change how its search engine ranks news content, aiming to settle a Digital Markets Act investigation before facing a potential fine of up to 10% of Alphabet's global revenue. The probe, opened in November 2025, centers on Google's 'site reputation abuse policy' introduced in March 2024, which demotes pages on reputable sites hosting third-party or affiliate content deemed low quality. The European Publishers Council triggered the investigation, arguing the policy disproportionately harms news publishers who monetize through advertising and affiliate links. Google's offer reportedly includes adjustments to how the policy applies to news domains and greater transparency around its effects. The Commission will now market-test the proposals with publishers before deciding whether to accept, modify, or reject them and proceed to formal infringement proceedings.
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