Britain’s competition regulator has announced that it may require Google to rank companies more equitably in search results and offer alternative services to consumers, Reuters reported.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is proposing to designate Alphabet-owned Google with “strategic market status,” according to a statement released on Tuesday, granting the CMA additional authority to intervene in search services to promote innovation and economic growth.
If confirmed in October, this designation could compel Google to enhance transparency for publishers, facilitate access to competing search services such as artificial-intelligence assistants and enable competitors to transfer their data.
Google warned that “punitive regulation” could hinder its ability to introduce new features and services in the UK, describing the CMA’s views as “broad and unfocused.”
“Proportionate, evidence-based regulation will be essential to preventing the CMA’s roadmap from becoming a roadblock to growth in the UK,” said Oliver Bethell, Google’s senior director for competition.
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell acknowledged that Google, which handles over 90 % of search queries in the UK, has delivered significant benefits, but the regulator has identified ways to enhance market competition and innovation.
“These targeted and proportionate actions would give UK businesses and consumers more choice and control over how they interact with Google’s search services—as well as unlocking greater opportunities for innovation across the UK tech sector and broader economy,” she said.
According to the CMA, millions of Britons use Google as their primary access point to the internet and over 200,000 businesses depend on Google search advertising to reach customers.
The CMA, which gained prominence after Britain’s exit from the European Union, plans to leverage its new authority to curb the dominance of digital giants such as Google, Apple, Meta and Microsoft while preserving investment and growth.
Google AI Search
Google is enhancing its productivity-focused Chromebook Plus lineup with several AI capabilities, including a screen-selection tool for search and text capture, a “Simplify” tool for explaining complex language and NotebookLM.
The screen-selection tool operates similarly to Google Lens and Chrome’s “Circle to search” feature on smartphones. Users can long-press the launcher button or use the snapshot tool to select content on the screen, prompting an instant Google search. This tool also allows users to select text and quickly add events to their calendar.
