"Specifically, it found that Google holds "substantial and entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance" when it comes to general search and search advertising services. The digital markets competition regime came into force on January 1, 2025 and will enable the agency to "promote competition in fast-moving digital markets, while protecting UK consumers and businesses from unfair or harmful practices by the very largest technology firms.""
""We have found that Google maintains a strategic position in the search and search advertising sector - with more than 90% of searches in the UK taking place on its platform," said Will Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets at the CMA. To be clear, the designation applies to the company's AI Overviews and AI Mode features, as well, but not to its Gemini AI assistant, at least for now."
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) designated Google with strategic market status (SMS) under the digital markets regime effective January 1, 2025. The CMA found that Google holds 'substantial and entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance' in general search and search advertising, citing over 90% of UK searches on its platform. The designation includes Google's search, AI Overviews and AI Mode features but excludes the Gemini assistant for now. SMS enables the CMA to propose interventions to keep search services open to effective competition and protect businesses from unfair practices. The CMA launched an investigation on January 14 and expects to consult later this year.
Read at Engadget
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