PARIS, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Alphabet unit Google

said on Tuesday it will make it easier for app developers to

steer customers to channels other than Google after the European

Union competition watchdog charged it with breaching EU

regulations.

In March, Google was hit with two charges of breaching the

EU's landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to rein in

the power of Big Tech.

Google has been in the European Commission's crosshairs

since early 2024 over whether it restricts app developers from

informing users about offers outside its app store Google Play

and whether it favours its vertical search services such as

Google Flights.

Regulators have said Alphabet technically prevents app

developers from freely steering consumers to other channels for

better offers.

They said a service fee charged by the company for

facilitating the initial acquisition of a new customer by an app

developer via Google Play goes beyond what is justified.

In a blog post, Google said that following discussions with

the European Commission, developers, and other experts, Google

is updating certain terms.

"While we still have concerns that these changes could

expose Android users to harmful content and make the app

experience worse, we're updating our External Offers Program for

the EU with revised fees and more options for Android

developers, following DMA discussions with the European

Commission," EMEA Senior Competition Counsel Clare Kelly said.

The company, which has been fined more than 8 billion euros

($9.3 billion) by the EU for various antitrust violations, risks

fines of up to 10% of its global annual sales if found guilty of

breaching the DMA.

($1 = 0.8580 euros)