Google is testing a new “Find results on” block with links to other search engines in the US. The search engine has already shown a similar block in the EU: in local search, which was seen as an attempt to avoid possible fines. The European Commission has long been interested in this vertical search on Google, states SearchEngines.
In the US, the new block also appears in local search results. It is a scrolling carousel with three services displayed on the first screen: Yelp, Groupon, and Craiglist. Users noticed it when searching for [Dallas movers].
According to Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Roundtable, this could be a test or a failure. Although it is more like a test, since Google understands what the user is looking for in the US, and not in the EU.
NIX Solutions reminds that in October 2020, the US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google. And earlier that month, the US Congress recognized Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon as monopolists who abuse their power in the market. The investigation lasted 16 months. In terms of local search, in March 2020, Yelp called on the US Congress to expand its investigation into Google to this vertical, but this was never done.
Google, meanwhile, may be wary of potential sanctions in this area and is proactively seeking solutions to help avoid them.