Google is combining all of its foreign domain names (such as google.co.jp and google.ru) into one domain, google.com.
According to the firm, local search results no longer require “country code top-level domains” (ccTLDs).
Google Combines All of Its Foreign Domain Names Into google.com
Google posted the following on its products blog, “Over the years, our ability to provide a local experience has improved. In 2017, we began providing the same experience with local results for everyone using Search, whether they were using google.com or their country’s ccTLD.”
Google also stated, “Because of this improvement, country-level domains are no longer necessary. So we’ll begin redirecting traffic from these ccTLDs to google.com to streamline people’s experience on Search.”
Users may need to re-enter some search options throughout the transition when the redirection is implemented progressively over the next few months.
Google stressed that regardless of what consumers see in the address bar of their browser, the search functionality would not change.
The company explained, “Nor will it change how we handle obligations under national laws.”
Google May Be Subject to a £6.6 Billion ($6.6 Billion) Antitrust Case in the UK
This modification coincides with legal examination of Google’s search business as it was declared a monopoly by a US federal judge. The DOJ suggested selling its Chrome division.
Additionally, due to search advertising, Google may be subject to a £6.6 billion ($6.6 billion) antitrust case in the UK.
The CEO of Fatjoe, Joe Davies, claims that users won’t be too concerned about the change, “Google have been serving results based on geography since 2017, so this change is not a huge deal for the search-engine users.”
Davies noted that, “Some businesses might experience region-level reporting on traffic. If a site was previously getting referral traffic from a TLD version of Google… those referrals will be replaced by just google.com.”
Tal Elyashiv, founder of Spice VC, criticized the reliance on ccTLDs as outdated, “Relying on domains for localization is ‘internet 1.0 thinking’ and a relic of a time before AI.”
Elyashiv explained that modern systems use more advanced localization signals, such as IP address, User history, behavior patterns
He said, “We’re witnessing the complete rethink of the web as AI continues to progress and perfect.”
Elyashiv added that while frequent travelers or multilingual users might notice some differences, the main reason for the change is regulatory strategy.
