German Email Provider Tuta Mail Accuses Google of Search Result Suppression, Raises EU Concerns

Tuta Mail, a reputable German encrypted email service provider, has recently filed a formal complaint with European Union regulators, alleging that Google suppressed its search results.

This move comes amid growing concern about tech companies' compliance with the EU's new Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The logo for US technology company and search engine Google is displayed on screens in London on February 11, 2016.

Did Google Hide Tuta Mail From Search Results?

According to Reuters, the Tuta Mail has expressed concern about a sudden drop in its Google search rankings that coincided with the DMA's enforcement.

The company, which has more than 10 million users worldwide, filed a complaint with the DMA taskforce, citing a significant decrease in search visibility beginning in March 2024.

CEO Matthias Pfau expressed surprise at the abrupt change in Google's search algorithms, which resulted in a significant decrease in Tuta Mail's online presence. Pfau lamented that Google's actions had a major impact on their business, with impressions dropping by nearly 90%.

"Obviously Google changed something in its search algorithms, but we do not know what they changed or why," the CEO told Reuters in an interview.

Tuta Mail's complaints include specific search terms such as the "encrypted email" and the "secure email," in which the company's website does not appear prominently in Google search results. This contrasts sharply with other search engines, such as Bing and DuckDuckGo, where Tuta Mail remains visible.

"This issue is limited to Google only. But due to Google's search dominance in Europe and North America, the drop we see in search results directly affects our business: When potential users are not able to find our website on Google, it means we lose business." the CEO told Hackread.

Google's Possible DMA Violation

In a statement on their blog, Tuta Mail highlighted the potential violation of the DMA, which aims to foster fair competition among tech companies. The company claimed that Google's actions limit its ability to compete in the email service market, putting it at a significant disadvantage.

Tuta Mail has received no response despite multiple attempts to contact Google for assistance and resolution, including support tickets and personal contacts. "We have tried to get in contact with Google to discuss this issue, but have received radio silence," the company said.

Google has denied allegations of unfair promotion, claiming that search ranking updates are intended to provide relevant results to users. Tuta Mail, on the other hand, continues to demand that Google resolve the search issue as soon as possible.

The DMA, a relatively new EU regulation, aims to address such imbalances in the digital market by encouraging fair competition and prohibiting anti-competitive behavior.

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