LONDON — The United Kingdom’s antitrust regulator has announced potential new regulations that may compel Google to offer British users the option to select from competing search services. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed a set of digital regulations aimed at enhancing market competition.
Among these proposed measures is the requirement for Google to implement “choice screens” in key products like the Chrome browser and the Android mobile operating system. These screens would allow users to easily opt for and switch between different search services, including those powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
The initiative is part of the watchdog’s effort to assign Google a “strategic market status” under the new digital rules in the U.K. Such a designation would enable the CMA to impose specific changes on Google’s search operations within the country.
Google expressed its concerns, noting that the CMA’s actions “could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in the UK.” Oliver Bethell, Google’s senior director of competition, remarked that although there is no implication of anti-competitive actions, the announcement poses clear challenges to their operations in the U.K.
The CMA has set a deadline of October 13 to decide whether Google will receive the strategic market status label. In preparation, the authority has outlined three additional priority measures it may enforce.
Firstly, Google would be required to ensure its search results are ranked and presented in a fair, non-discriminatory manner, while also providing businesses with effective channels for lodging complaints about unfair treatment. Additionally, publishers should be granted transparency and choice regarding how their content is utilized for AI services, such as AI-generated overviews in search results.
Moreover, the CMA wants to make it easier for users to transfer their data, including Google search history, to other businesses. This could potentially stimulate the development of innovative products and services by fostering more competition in the digital space.