Google enforces EU rules to allow online publishers to rank better
- Portugal Business News - Valerie Charoux
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Digital News Europe - Google enforces EU rules to allow online publishers and online news media to rank better starting on August 30th, 2026, an advantage that does not apply to other regions of the world. Here are the new Google ranking rules in the Europe:
What are the new Google ranking rules in the EU in 2026?
Google will no longer be authorized to demote sites based on their spam policy and websites should rank higher in the EU region starting on August 30th, 2026.
This new Google ranking rule is being enforced in the EU since regulators ruled that Google should stop demoting news media and other publishers' websites in Google search results based on Google´s Spam Policy that demotes websites with content from commercial partners.
This means that websites, including news media, should rank better in the 27 EU countries, as well as in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein that are part of the European Economic Area, compared to other regions. This is because the new Google ranking rule will not apply to regions that are outside the European Economic Area.
"We welcome the repeal of this policy, which unfairly penalized publishers and other business users of Google Search" - EU Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier.
The EU Digital Markets Act, which aims to rein in the power of Big Tech, has successfully changed the Google Search rules in the European Economic Area and will no longer demote press publications solely for hosting third-party content, since breaches to the new EU regulations can cost companies like Google fines of up to 10% of their global annual turnover.
