UK’s CMA Designates Google With Strategic Market Status, Plans Oversight On Search Operations

The UK watchdog, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has designated Google with “strategic market status,” marking the first use of its new powers to regulate major technology firms.

The CMA said Google controls more than 90% of UK search traffic, allowing regulators to impose targeted measures to ensure fair competition. Google warned that such interventions could hinder innovation and economic growth. Oliver Bethell, Google’s senior director of competition, said potential restrictions might delay new products during a key period of AI development. The CMA plans to hold discussions in 2025 about possible actions, such as requiring choice screens, fairer ranking rules, and giving publishers more control over the content used in AI search features.