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Google in the Crosshairs as UK Regulator Gains Power to Force Search Overhaul

by admin477351

Google has landed firmly in the crosshairs of the UK’s competition regulator, which has now gained the legal power to force a comprehensive overhaul of the company’s search business. The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) has slapped Google with a “strategic market status” designation, subjecting it to a new, more interventionist regulatory regime.
This aggressive stance is the first major outcome of the UK’s new digital markets legislation. The “strategic market status” (SMS) is specifically designed for firms like Google, whose control over a market—in this case, over 90% of UK searches—is so complete that it requires special rules to prevent the stifling of competition.
The CMA is not holding back on its potential plans. The regulator has floated the idea of mandating “choice screens” to break Google’s default advantage, even suggesting that AI-powered rivals like ChatGPT and Perplexity could be featured. Other proposals aim to police the fairness of search rankings and empower publishers who provide the content that Google’s services rely on.
In response, Google has adopted a defensive posture, arguing that the regulator’s actions could harm the very consumers they are meant to protect. The company claims that the proposed interventions could “inhibit UK innovation,” slowing down the deployment of new AI technologies that are transforming the digital landscape.
While the CMA insists the designation is not a punishment, it is a clear statement of intent. The battle lines are now drawn for a consultation process later this year that will determine the exact nature of the changes Google will be forced to make, with profound implications for the future of search in the UK.

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