Latest news with #searchservices
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
UK antitrust watchdog says Google may have to offer rival search options
LONDON (AP) — Google could be forced to let British users choose whether to use rival search services, the country's antitrust watchdog said Tuesday as it proposed using new digital regulations to boost competition. The Competition and Markets Authority said its 'priority measures' include requiring Google to present users with 'choice screens' when they use key products like the Chrome browser and Android mobile operating system. The choice screens would let users 'easily select and switch between search services,' which could potentially include AI assistants, it said. The watchdog is seeking to give Google a ' strategic market status ' label under the new U.K. digital rules. That would give it the power to use 'targeted measures' to impose changes to 'specific aspects' of its search operations in the U.K. The CMA's move 'could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in the UK,' Google said. Oliver Bethell, Google's senior director of competition, noted in a prepared statement that CMA reiterated that 'strategic market status' doesn't imply that anti-competitive behavior has taken place, 'yet this announcement presents clear challenges to critical areas of our business in the U.K.,' The watchdog has until Oct. 13 to decide on whether to give Google the label. It has drawn up three other initial priority measures that it would carry out if it goes ahead. Google would have to make its search results ranking and presentation fair and non-discriminatory, and give businesses an effective way to complain if they've been treated unfairly. Publishers should be given choice and transparency about how their content collected by Google is used for AI services, such as AI-generated overviews that have been appearing at the top of search results. The CMA also wants to ensure people can easily transfer their data, such as their Google search history, to other businesses, which the CMA said could foster innovative new products and services.
CNA
3 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
UK may compel Google to change search rankings, offer alternatives
LONDON :Britain's competition regulator said it may force Google to rank businesses more fairly in search results and offer alternative services to consumers, marking the first use of expanded powers to oversee the world's biggest tech companies. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is proposing to designate Alphabet-owned Google with "strategic market status", it said on Tuesday, giving it more power to intervene in search services to increase innovation and economic growth. If confirmed in October, the designation could compel Google to enhance transparency for publishers, simplify access to rival search services including artificial intelligence assistants, and facilitate data portability for competitors. Google warned that "punitive regulation" could stop it bringing new features and services to Britain, and described the scope of the CMA's considerations 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 said Google, which accounts for more than 90 per cent of search queries in Britain, had delivered tremendous benefits but the regulator had found ways to make markets more competitive and innovative. "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. Millions of Britons relied on Google as a gateway to the internet and more than 200,000 businesses depended on Google search advertising to reach their customers, the regulator said. The CMA, which gained global prominence when Britain left the European Union, aims to use its expanded power to rein in the power of tech giants such as Google, Apple, Meta and Microsoft without stifling investment or growth. The CMA's targeted approach contrasts with the EU's broader enforcement of digital regulations, as Britain seeks to balance curbing the dominance of tech giants with fostering economic growth post-Brexit. NEW POWERS Cardell said the CMA had set out a roadmap of changes the company could make ahead of a final decision in October. Google said on Tuesday that the CMA's SMS designation did not imply anti-competitive behaviours, but that it presented clear challenges to critical areas of its business in Britain. The development and adoption of generative AI has the potential to upend the search market that Google dominates. The CMA said that Google was already incorporating generative AI features - such as AI Overviews - into its search products and developing its own assistant, Gemini. Its proposed designation would include AI-based search features, although not Gemini AI Assistant itself, adding that this would be kept under review as usage evolved, the regulator said. The CMA said it planned further action to address more complex issues, starting in 2026, such as concerns about Google's treatment of rival specialised search firms and transparency and control in search advertising. The regulator's second investigation under its new powers into mobile operating systems also targets Google, as well as Apple. It could see the company receive another designation focused on its Android operating system. The CMA can impose fines for non-compliance and has direct enforcement powers. Google has been subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny in the United States and the European Union, spanning search, advertising, AI, and digital platform practices. Over the past year it was found to have monopolised search and online ads in two major U.S. rulings, and it was charged in March by the European Commission with breaching landmark EU digital rules.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK plans to increase control over Google in search
STORY: Britain's competition regulator on Tuesday (June 24) said it was proposing to designate Google with "strategic market status". That means the regulator will get greater control over how the U.S. tech giant operates search services. The Competition and Markets Authority said the designation is the first proposed under its new big tech regime. And would enable it to force Google to ensure fairer ranking for businesses appearing on Google search. It also proposed making it easier for users to access rival search services. And control for publishers whose content appeared in search results. It added that Google should also make its data more portable to help new businesses bring innovative products to market. Google will be the first company designated since the regulator gained new powers this year. And the move could be implemented in October. Google accounts for more than 90% of searches in Britain. And the CMA says it's set out a roadmap of future action against the firm. Google said the move could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in Britain. The tech giant added that the CMA's considerations were broad and unfocused.
Asharq Al-Awsat
8 hours ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UK Plans to Increase Control over Google in search
Britain's competition regulator on Tuesday said it was proposing to designate Google with "strategic market status" to give it greater control over how the US tech giant operates search services. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said steps it could take included making it easier for users to access different search providers and ensuring fair ranking principles for businesses appearing on Google search, Reuters reported. It also proposed more transparency and control for publishers whose content appeared in search results if it goes ahead with the designation in October. Google will be the first company designated since the regulator gained new powers this year. Google said the move could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in Britain. "We're concerned that the scope of the CMA's considerations remains broad and unfocused, with a range of interventions being considered before any evidence has been provided," said Oliver Bethell, Google's senior director for competition.
CNA
8 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
UK plans to increase control over Google in search
LONDON :Britain's competition regulator on Tuesday said it was proposing to designate Google with "strategic market status" to give it greater control over how the U.S. tech giant operates search services. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said steps it could take included making it easier for users to access different search providers and ensuring fair ranking principles for businesses appearing on Google search. It also proposed more transparency and control for publishers whose content appeared in search results if it goes ahead with the designation in October. Google will be the first company designated since the regulator gained new powers this year. Google said the move could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in Britain. "We're concerned that the scope of the CMA's considerations remains broad and unfocused, with a range of interventions being considered before any evidence has been provided," said Oliver Bethell, Google's senior director for competition.
