Google changed its spam policy in the EU to avoid an antitrust fine under the Digital Markets Act.
Alphabet's Google announced changes to its site reputation abuse spam policy, effective August 30, 2026, exempting users in the European Economic Area from manual demotion actions. The European Commission had opened an investigation under the Digital Markets Act after publishers complained the policy unfairly demoted their content. The Commission said it would monitor the new policy for compliance.
3
Divergence score
2 outlets covered it, splitting into 2 framing camps across 2 bias groups.
2 camps
2 bias groups
Market signalBETA
The spectrum · how 2 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Globe and Mail
Reuters
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
First to report
- Reutersfirst
- Globe and Mail+5.4 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Both outlets report identical facts; the Globe and Mail provides fuller context on parasite SEO and DMA enforcement while Reuters offers a bare summary.
How each outlet covered it
No left-right split here
Coverage clusters in the center and international press. Here is each take as it stands.
Center & international coverage
“Google changes spam policy in EU to avoid antitrust fine”
“Google changes spam policy in EU to avert antitrust fine - Reuters”
4 tracked claims across 2 outlets
Fact ledger
All4Claimed3Corroborated1
1/2
Claimed
The policy change takes effect on August 30, 2026, applying to the European Economic Area.
Corroborated
Disputed
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