Major Publishers Consider Blocking Google Search Completely; EU Issues $1B Fine

SERoundtable reports that large publishers are strongly considering blocking Google Search entirely due to declining clicks and diminished value exchange, while simultaneously the European Union levied a €890 million (approximately $1 billion) fine against Google for breaches of the Digital Markets Act related to anti-competitive search and Google Play behavior. The news arrives as Google reported record quarterly earnings with search ad revenues up 14.5%, highlighting the tension between advertiser gains and publisher frustration.