The UK’s competition regulator is facing calls to investigate Google’s online search business as a priority, as a new digital markets regime launches.
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) bosses are now facing calls not to ‘lose their nerve’ and act quickly to probe concerns the US tech giant damages competition.
Google has faced criticism it uses its dominance to favour certain publishers when people search for news stories and that business are at the mercy of its algorithm changes.
The CMA has just been given new powers to ensure competition in the online world, while protecting consumers and business from ‘unfair or harmful practices’ by tech giants.
Under the new regime the CMA is able to designate tech firms as having ‘Strategic Market Status (SMS)’ in a ‘particular digital activity’. Once it has done this it can impose ‘conduct requirements’ or introduce ‘pro-competition interventions’.
The CMA announced yesterday that it was planning to launch investigations into three areas of ‘digital activity’ across the first half of the year. It is understood that each investigation will look into one firm over a specific activity.
But the CMA has yet to issue the names of the companies it will probe.
The News Media Association, which represents news organisations in the UK, called on the competition regulator to look at Google search as a priority.
The UK’s competition regulator is facing calls to investigate Google’s online search business as a priority, as a new digital markets regime launches (stock image)
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) bosses are now facing calls not to ‘lose their nerve’ and act quickly to probe concerns the US tech giant damages competition (stock image)
Owen Meredith, chief executive of the organisation said: ‘Today is a welcome landmark in the ongoing work to create a fairer playing field between the tech platforms and other businesses in the digital ecosystem such as news publishers.
‘The CMA must now build upon this momentum by prioritising for designation the companies and services that will make the biggest difference fastest, namely Google Search, Google’s ad tech services, Meta’s Facebook and both Google and Apple’s mobile ecosystems.
‘By doing so, the CMA will be acting decisively to deliver the full benefits of the new regime, unlocking the power of the UK’s digital economy as it does so.’
A news industry insider told the Mail: ‘We have taken years to get to this point and it is critical that the CMA don’t now lose their nerve and fail to designate Google Search as a top priority.
‘For too long, publishers and many other digital businesses have been beholden to the whims of algorithm changes implemented with no notice which can cause catastrophic drops in traffic overnight. We need action now.’
Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: ‘We are committed to ensuring that this regime delivers for the UK – driving benefits for UK consumers and businesses while stimulating investment, innovation and growth across the UK tech sector.
‘The regime has been carefully designed to ensure that the UK keeps pace with future developments and maximises its international attractiveness to innovators and investors in these dynamic markets.’
