UK opens antitrust investigation into Google’s search practices

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a programme Antitrust investigation In Google search services, following similar steps from the likes of Japanthe US and European Union. It is the first investigation conducted by the CMA under the law Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Code (DMCC) in the UKwhich took effect on January 1, 2025. The regulator previously announced that it would launch two separate investigations this month.

The CMA investigation will look into whether Google is stifling external innovation, giving preference to its own services, and collecting or using data without users’ consent. Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: “Millions of people and businesses across the UK rely on Google’s search and advertising services – 90 per cent of searches take place on their platform and more than 200,000 UK businesses advertise there.” In release. “That’s why it’s so important to make sure these services deliver good outcomes for people and businesses and that there’s a level playing field, especially since AI has the potential to transform search services.”

The DMCC Law allows the Capital Markets Authority to designate certain companies with a “strategic market status” (SMS) around a specific digital activity – in this case Google’s search and search advertising services. Global companies must have a turnover of £25 million or £1 billion in the UK.

This mark allows the CMA to have greater regulatory power over these services and implement pro-competitive directives. For example, if the CMA gave Google’s search and search advertising services an SMS designation, it could force the company to make the collected data available to competitors or give publishers greater control over how Google uses their data. The investigation could take up to nine months and the CMA is seeking comments from interested parties until 3 February.

Google has had previous investigations into calls into its search engine. However, in December, The company shared the proposed changes To its search services in the United States, following an invitation to do so from the Department of Justice Chrome sale.