CMA's Strategic Move: Google Faces New UK Regulations

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposes designating Google with 'strategic market status', offering greater control over Google's search services. Measures may include fair ranking for businesses and transparency for publishers. Google's Oliver Bethell highlights concerns over the scope of these interventions.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a proposal to designate Google with 'strategic market status', aiming to exert greater control over the tech giant's search services operations.

This move could see the implementation of measures to facilitate user access to alternative search providers, ensure fair ranking of businesses in search results, and provide more transparency for publishers. The designation could take effect in October, positioning Google as the first company to be affected under the regulator's newly acquired powers this year.

Google, however, raised concerns over the proposal's breadth. Oliver Bethell, Google's senior director for competition, expressed apprehension about the wide range of potential interventions being considered without sufficient evidence to support them.

(With inputs from agencies.)