A coalition of lobbying groups representing airlines, hotels, retailers, and e-commerce businesses has urged the European Union’s tech regulators to ensure that Google considers their perspectives when implementing changes to comply with the landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA). The groups, which include Airlines for Europe, Hotrec, European Hotel Forum, EuroCommerce, Ecommerce Europe, and Independent Retail Europe, have expressed concerns that Google’s adjustments to its search results and online services could harm their revenues and exacerbate discrimination against their industries.
In a joint letter to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and EU industry chief Thierry Breton, the groups highlighted their growing concerns since March, when they first raised their worries about the impact of the DMA on their industries. They argued that the proposed solutions and requirements for implementing the DMA could further increase discrimination against their businesses, potentially leading to a significant decline in direct sales revenues.
The groups noted that Google’s changes could give more prominence to powerful online intermediaries, such as booking platforms and aggregators, at the expense of hotels, airlines, merchants, and restaurants. They expressed concern that the European Commission’s investigation into Google’s potential DMA breaches only focuses on ensuring fair treatment of third-party services, without considering the impact on European businesses that offer their services on Google’s platforms.
The European Commission has not yet responded to the groups’ concerns, while Google has previously stated that its changes aim to give users more choice and rivals a better chance to compete. However, the groups remain concerned that Google’s implementation of the DMA could have unintended consequences for their industries, and are seeking a more inclusive and nuanced approach to ensure a level playing field for all businesses.
