London – The UK competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, announced it would be consulting on a set of potential “conduct requirements” following its designation of Google Search as having Strategic Market Status. It will be consulting on new controls over: how publisher content is used in AI overviews; how websites are ranked; how users choose search services; and how people and businesses can use Google’s search data. Google Search is the first service to be designated under the UK’s new digital markets law and therefore an important example for other companies that might be subject to similar controls.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Senior Director and head of CCIA’s London office Matthew Sinclair:
“We have seen in other countries how regulation can delay the introduction of new services and compromise the search experience for users. Undermining the use of AI to improve search results and breaking up the experience would cost millions of British users time and frustration. The CMA needs to act proportionately and ensure that any interventions put innovation and consumers’ interests first.”
