Google Defends Anti-Spam Policy Amid EU Investigation

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Google is standing firm against a new investigation launched by the European Commission on November 13, 2025, into its anti-spam policies. The inquiry examines whether Google’s strategies unfairly demote legitimate news publishers in search results when they run sponsored or promotional content.

According to Google’s Chief Scientist for Search, Pandu Nayak, the investigation is misguided and could harm millions of users in Europe. Nayak emphasized that the company’s anti-spam policy exists to protect users from deceptive, low-quality content and scams.

“People come to Google because they want the best, most relevant results. They don’t want to sift through spam,” Nayak said in a blog post. He pointed out that a German court had previously dismissed a similar complaint, ruling that Google’s anti-spam policy was valid and applied consistently.

The EU’s inquiry falls under the Digital Markets Act, which seeks to regulate how tech giants like Google operate in the European market. Publishers have raised concerns that Google’s policies unfairly penalize revenue-generating models that include sponsored articles and promotional content.

Nayak provided examples of ‘parasite SEO,’ a practice where scammers pay reputable sites to host their content, manipulating search results. He noted that without enforcement of the anti-spam policy, dishonest players might outcompete legitimate sites, degrading trust in search results.

Google has stated that its measures are designed to maintain a level playing field, helping smaller content creators who adhere to high-quality standards. The company is committed to combating spam in search results and maintaining a fair review process for affected publishers.

This investigation poses significant challenges for Google as it navigates the balance between maintaining search quality and compliance with European regulations. Nayak concluded that the company will continue to defend its policies, emphasizing that European users deserve better-quality search results.