UK Regulator Investigates Google's Market Dominance

By Evans Momodu
1 minute read

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Google’s dominance in search and advertising, focusing on the tech giant’s impact on users, advertisers, news publishers, and rival search engines.

Central to the inquiry is whether Google has leveraged its dominant market position to suppress competition or create barriers for potential rivals. The CMA is also examining whether Google's influence extends to shaping the development of new AI services.

Key areas of concern include:

• Self-Preferencing: Whether Google favours its own services, such as Google Shopping and Google Flights, over competitors.
• Data Exploitation: The collection and use of vast amounts of consumer data, potentially without proper consent.
• Publisher Rights: The potential misuse of news articles without fair compensation to publishers.

The CMA may compel Google to share its collected data with other businesses to foster competition or grant publishers more control over their content and its usage.

This investigation follows similar scrutiny by regulators worldwide, as governments seek to balance oversight of Big Tech with economic growth agendas. Google has not yet commented on the CMA’s inquiry.
Source: Sky news