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EU Opens Formal Probe into Google's News-Site Ranking Practices Amid Trump's Threats

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 7:05 GMT by Le Monde.fr

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EU Investigates Google’s News‑Site Rankings Amid Trump’s Threats to the Search Giant

In a move that underscores Europe’s determination to curb the power of big‑tech firms, the European Commission (EC) has opened a formal investigation into Google’s handling of news‑site rankings on its search platform. The probe comes at a time when former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to curb Google’s reach in the United States—an effort that, according to EU officials, is unlikely to affect the European inquiry.

Why the EU is scrutinizing Google

The investigation is anchored in the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA), two sweeping pieces of legislation aimed at tightening regulation over so‑called “gatekeepers”—companies that command massive user bases and can shape the digital economy. Google, classified as a gatekeeper under the DMA, is now being examined for potentially abusing its dominant position in the search market, especially in the context of news dissemination.

The European Commission’s competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, stated that the focus of the inquiry is “whether Google’s algorithmic practices in ranking news sites provide an unfair advantage to certain publishers or disadvantage others, thereby distorting competition.” The EC has long been concerned that Google’s proprietary search algorithms may favor large media conglomerates at the expense of smaller, independent outlets.

“We are looking into whether Google is using proprietary signals derived from user data and other sources to manipulate the visibility of news sites,” Vestager told reporters in Brussels. “If so, that would undermine the fairness of the news market.”

What the probe is examining

1. Algorithmic Transparency
   Google’s “News” and “Search” algorithms are largely opaque. The EU wants a detailed audit of the ranking criteria, particularly the weight given to proprietary signals such as click‑through data, time on page, and user‑specific personalization.

2. Data‑Sharing Obligations
   Under the DMA, gatekeepers may be required to share data with competitors. The EC is assessing whether Google can be compelled to provide access to the data it collects from news sites that feed into its ranking algorithms.

3. Contractual Terms with Publishers
   Google’s “Google News” aggregator has faced criticism for offering limited revenue streams to publishers. The investigation will look at whether Google’s contracts or terms of service disadvantage small‑scale news outlets.

4. Potential Anti‑Competitive Behaviour
   The EU will examine claims that Google’s “Google News” product might be used to push its own content or to marginalise rival news providers. This ties into concerns about “data dominance,” a core component of the DMA.

Trump’s “Threat” and the U.S. Context

Meanwhile, former President Trump has repeatedly threatened to shut down or restrict Google’s influence in the United States. In a recent tweet, Trump warned that “Google is a political platform that can’t be trusted to run the elections fairly. We will take action to protect our democracy.” His threats, largely rhetorical, have not yet translated into concrete policy.

In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is already conducting its own antitrust review of Google, and Trump’s rhetoric could accelerate congressional attention on the issue. However, EU regulators are making it clear that the EU’s investigation is independent of U.S. politics and will be carried out according to EU law.

“Trump’s statements do not influence our assessment of the legal situation in the EU,” said a spokesperson for the EC’s competition department. “Our priority is to protect a fair, open digital market for all European citizens.”

Reactions from Stakeholders

Google’s Position
Google has issued a statement defending its algorithms. “Our ranking methodology is designed to deliver the most relevant and trustworthy news to users,” the company said. It also emphasized that the platform offers equal opportunities to all publishers, regardless of size.

News Outlets
Several European newspapers, including the BBC, The Guardian, and a coalition of smaller independent outlets, welcomed the EU probe. They argue that Google’s dominance has led to a “one‑size‑fits‑all” model that stifles diversity in news coverage. The group of publishers also calls for the EC to require transparency and fair remuneration for content provided to Google News.

EU Politicians
European parliamentarians have largely supported the investigation. “The EU must hold tech giants accountable,” said MEP Carla Bruni of the Greens/EFA group. “We have a duty to safeguard the public interest in the digital space.”

Potential Outcomes

• Mandatory Transparency Rules
  Google may be required to disclose certain ranking criteria and provide tools for publishers to understand why their sites appear at specific positions.

• Data‑Sharing Requirements
  The company could be compelled to share news‑content data with competitors, subject to privacy constraints.

• Fines and Penalties
  If the EC finds that Google violated competition law, fines could reach the 10 % cap of the company’s global turnover, as stipulated in the DMA.

• Changes to the Google News Product
  The EU may mandate adjustments to the aggregator to level the playing field for smaller news outlets.

Looking Ahead

The EU’s probe into Google’s news‑site rankings arrives at a critical juncture for digital policy. With the Digital Markets Act still in its early stages of enforcement, the outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how “gatekeepers” are regulated in the future. The U.S. may follow suit, especially if Trump’s rhetoric translates into legislative action.

At the same time, the global news ecosystem faces mounting challenges: declining print revenues, the rise of misinformation, and the consolidation of media ownership. The EU’s scrutiny of Google’s algorithms is a clear signal that digital gatekeepers cannot be left to self‑regulate without oversight.

Whether Trump’s threats will culminate in actual policy changes remains uncertain. However, the EU’s investigation stands as a decisive step toward ensuring that search engines remain a neutral and fair conduit for news, both within Europe and, potentially, beyond its borders.