Following last Friday’s announcement from the Competition and Markets Authority confirming its final decision to designate Google as having Strategic Market Status in its general search services and search advertising, NMA Chief Executive Owen Meredith has said:
“The CMA’s decision, confirming that Google has strategic market status in search, is a turning point in the fight for a fair and competitive digital economy in the UK. Search is a key discovery path for users accessing news online and Google has wielded its dominance to the detriment of users and publishers.
“The CMA must now push ahead with remedies and put in place a robust set of conduct requirements to ensure publishers have genuine control over when and how their valuable content is used: that means real transparency, meaningful consent, and fair payment.
“The British government must also stand firm and continue to resist pressure from the US President, bidding on behalf of Silicon Valley, to dilute pro-competition remedies under the guise of ‘innovation’. By taking this action, the CMA is ensuring the long-term sustainable growth of the UK tech and creative sectors.”
Sajeeda Merali, CEO of the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) said: “We welcome the CMA’s decision to designate Google Search with Strategic Market Status. It’s the correct decision and addresses Google's current monopoly.”
"It’s particularly encouraging to see Discover, AI Overview, and AI Mode included in scope. This demonstrates an understanding that search is evolving, and that publishers must have a say in how their content is used. In the upcoming November consultation, we will further advocate for appropriate protections for our world-leading publishers and the trusted editorial content they produce.
"This is a critical opportunity to rebalance the digital marketplace and foster greater competition, building a healthier ecosystem overall. We’re ready to play an active role in shaping this next phase to deliver a fairer, more sustainable digital ecosystem."
Keep up-to-date with publishing news: sign up here for InPubWeekly, our free weekly e-newsletter.
