Google will provide additional information about the services to European users. Committed to transparency to comply with European laws.
Google is committed to providing more accurate information to users of the Google Store, Google Play Store, Google Hotels and Google Flights in Europe. The European Commission announced this in a press release. The American giant will soon reveal whether it is acting as a simple middleman or selling goods directly, and will better inform customers about shipping, returns, repairs and more. This initiative aims to bring the company into line with European law following an exchange with the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) that began in 2021.
Google will provide more information about services to European users
“European consumers have the right to clear and complete information so that they can make fully informed decisions,” Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said in a press release. “Google’s commitment is a step in that direction.”
Google Flights and Google Hotels will soon let consumers know whether they sell directly or just act as intermediaries for other companies. These services must also state what was used as the reference price for promotions and explicitly state that Google Hotels reviews are not reviewed. Finally, they must comply with the same transparency rules as other platforms such as Expedia.com.
Committed to transparency to comply with European laws
At the same time, the Google Store and Google Play Store must provide “clear pre-contractual information”about shipping prices, the right to recall, and repair or replacement options. They should also make it easier to access vendor information, including names and addresses, as well as “direct and efficient”methods of communication, such as telephone lines for agents.
Finally, the American giant should show users how to offer different versions of the Google Play Store by country to comply with geo-blocking laws in the European Union, allowing them to use any European country’s payment methods. Currently, Google only allows country changes once per year, which may result in users losing content and/or credits. These changes should allow users to “enjoy the same rights and access the same content wherever they are in the European Union.”However, neither Google nor the European Commission have specified when these changes will take effect.