Google Tests Impact of Excluding EU News From Search Results

Essential Information:

• Google is conducting a limited experiment that removes news content from EU publishers in Search, News, and Discover.
• This test impacts 1% of users in nine EU nations, which include France, Italy, Spain, and more.
• Users will continue to see news from non-EU publishers, with regular service resuming post-experiment.

In a controversial development making waves in the digital sphere, Google has kicked off a limited experiment aimed at evaluating the effects of excluding news content from publishers based in the European Union. This initiative targets just one percent of users across nine EU countries, namely Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.

Google presents this experiment as a reaction to the inquiries from regulators and publishers who are interested in understanding the role news content plays in enhancing search experiences. During this specific trial, impacted users will not have access to news stories from EU publishers while using Google Search, Google News, or their customized Discover feeds.

Although Google claims that users will still receive news updates from publishers outside the EU, this action suggests more than a mere test. The timing is particularly significant, given Google’s previous encounters in various regions, such as its recent disputes in Canada related to the Online News Act, as well as disagreements in California regarding the Journalism Preservation Act.

This trial serves a dual intent: It will illustrate the potential traffic loss for EU publishers without Google’s support and, in turn, reveal to Google the extent to which its users cherish news content. While Google has not announced a specific conclusion date for this trial, they have guaranteed that news results will revert to their usual format after the experiment concludes.

This testing phase will not interfere with Google’s current payment agreements under the European Copyright Directive, which encompass partnerships with over 4,000 EU publishers. Nevertheless, it conveys a poignant message regarding Google’s stance on negotiations related to news content remuneration, indicating that the company is willing to assert its influence in response to regulatory challenges.

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