BRUSSELS, March 20 (Reuters) - Alphabet's

Google on Thursday will seek to fend off criticism about changes

to its core services mandated by landmark EU tech rules,

according to a copy of a senior Google executive's speech seen

by Reuters.

Oliver Bethell, a lawyer who leads Google's EMEA competition

team, will tell regulators and rivals that balancing the various

interests has required the tech company to make complex

trade-offs, according to the document.

Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which kicked in on

March 7, users can remove any Google pre-installed software or

app if they want while Google will need their consent to use

their data across its various services or for personalised ads.

Google is not allowed to favour its services or products

over rivals on its platform.

The DMA aims to rein in Big Tech's power, ensure a level

playing field for smaller rivals and give users more choices.

The Act designates companies that control access to their

platforms, such as Google, as a gatekeeper.

Rivals ranging from comparison shopping sites to hotels,

airlines and restaurants have said the changes made by Google do

not comply with the DMA and have urged the European Commission

to act. Some rivals have complained that Google's search traffic

results are even worse than prior to the changes.

Bethell says in the speech that re-wiring the company's

search engine has been a balancing act.

"We need to balance the new opportunities 6(11) is intended

to create with the risk to user privacy and security," Bethell

will tell a workshop organised by the European Commission to

allow rivals and other interested parties to quiz the company.

Six/11 refers to a DMA article.

"The balance requires complex trade-offs," Bethell says in

the document. "There is a question of when do we go too far by

giving online search engines sensitive information at a high

cost to users."

Bethell said some changes demanded by vertical search

engines went beyond the DMA.

"We heard some calls for changes from stakeholders that we

think would fundamentally degrade Search for European users and

businesses, that are not required by the DMA and that we can't

implement," he said.

"The DMA should not require a degraded search experience on

Google for European consumers."

Bethell also took a swipe at other companies designated as

gatekeepers under the DMA which have faced criticism over their

compliance efforts.

"As we comply with the DMA, engage with the Commission, and

listen to feedback from third parties, we expect the same from

other gatekeepers too," he said.

DMA breaches can cost companies as much as 10% of their

annual global turnover.