EU launches antitrust probe into how Google's anti-spam policy affects publishers' search rankings

The European Commission has launched an investigation into how Google is implementing its “site reputation abuse policy” and its impact on publishers.

The Commission said on Thursday that it had found signs that Google is using the policy to push news media and other publishers’ websites and content lower in search rankings when they include content from their business partners, and that the policy “appears to directly impact a common and legitimate way for publishers to monetise their websites and content.”

The EC is now investigating if Google’s policy impacts publishers’ “freedom to conduct legitimate business, innovate, and cooperate with third-party content providers.”

According to Google’s page on the policy , the measures are aimed at curbing websites that seek to manipulate