Google’s EU Fine Escape Plan Just Leaked — You Won’t Believe What’s Inside

In a desperate attempt to dodge a potentially massive antitrust fine from the European Union, tech giant Google has quietly submitted a revised proposal designed to address mounting complaints from rivals just days ahead of a high-stakes regulatory showdown.

According to a leaked document obtained by Reuters, Google’s latest move is part of an urgent effort to comply with the EU’s strict Digital Markets Act (DMA) a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at curbing the dominance of Big Tech firms and leveling the playing field for smaller competitors across Europe.

The clock is ticking: Google is set to present its fresh proposal during a two-day workshop in Brussels on July 7–8, where EU officials and the company’s fiercest critics will weigh the merits of its revised compliance strategy.

The stakes couldn’t be higher: if regulators find the company in breach of the DMA, it could face a fine of up to 10% of its global annual revenue potentially running into billions of dollars.

What’s New in Google’s “Option B” Proposal?

The newly proposed plan internally dubbed “Option B” offers a structural shake-up to how Google displays search results related to vertical search services (VSS).

These include specialized search tools for sectors such as hotels, flights, restaurants, and transportation.

Under “Option B,” Google would introduce a dedicated box for VSS listings, and directly beneath that, a second box featuring free, non-paid links to external suppliers in those same sectors.

Google would manage this layout, but notably, the second box would not be branded as a Google service an intentional move to sidestep accusations that it continues to promote its own products unfairly.

The document reads:

“Option B provides suppliers opportunities while not creating a box that can be characterised as a Google VSS.”

This alternative approach comes on the heels of a separate proposal submitted just last week, in which Google had suggested grouping all VSS content into a single top-of-page box, including its own services like Google Flights, Google Hotels, and Google Shopping.

That earlier proposal drew criticism for still giving Google prime visibility in search.

Google a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has long been accused by EU regulators of self-preferencing—the act of pushing its own products and services to the top of search results, while burying competitors deeper in the listings.

The European Commission formally charged Google in March 2025, alleging that the company’s practices violate the newly enacted DMA.

The legislation, which officially took effect earlier this year, is widely seen as the EU’s boldest effort yet to rein in the power of gatekeeper platforms and foster greater digital competition.

Regulators are now actively enforcing the rules, with Google being one of the first tech titans to undergo scrutiny.

A Google spokesperson confirmed that the company has made “hundreds of product alterations” in recent months in a bid to meet the DMA’s demands.

However, the tech firm is sounding alarm bells about unintended consequences.

“While we strive for compliance, we remain genuinely concerned about some of the real-world consequences of the DMA, which are leading to worse online products and experiences for Europeans,” the spokesperson said.

The company’s warning suggests a growing rift between Silicon Valley’s user-centric design ethos and Brussels’ regulatory push for fairness over function.

If EU regulators reject Google’s proposal or if rivals successfully argue that the changes are still insufficient financial penalties are all but certain.

The DMA allows for fines up to 10% of global turnover, meaning Google could face a penalty in the multi-billion-dollar range if found non-compliant.

Tech watchers are calling this upcoming Brussels meeting a “make-or-break moment” for Google in Europe.

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