Responding to the Competition and Markets Authority's conduct requirement for Google Search published today, News Media Association chief executive Theo Bamber said: “UK news publishers produce some of the most valuable content in the world, but until now dominant platforms like Google have been allowed to dictate the terms of how that content is used. The legally enforceable Conduct Requirements for Google Search published today are a significant step towards levelling the playing field and building a fair, transparent digital economy where premium content is properly respected and fairly compensated.
“Their success now relies on efficient implementation, robust enforcement and the ability to adapt and strengthen the rules if they are not working properly, in a fastmoving technological environment. It’s the job of the CMA to make this happen, but it needs strong and consistent political support. Only then will we see meaningful progress towards a system of fair and reasonable payment for publisher content which is crucial for the future of high-quality journalism.”
Responding to the announcement, Dawn Alford, chief executive of the Society of Editors said: “The publication today of the CMA’s Conduct Requirement is a welcome step in achieving greater control and a fairer deal for publishers over how their valuable content is used.
“The requirements must now be fully implemented and enforced and form part of a wider goal to build a digital future that values, respects and properly compensates creative content.”
Sajeeda Merali, CEO of the Professional Publishers' Association (PPA), commented: "As AI continues to reshape how people discover and consume information, it is vital that publishers of trusted journalism and the editorial brands they serve have meaningful control over how their content is used and a fair opportunity to negotiate when that content creates value for others.
“In this latest announcement, the CMA has recognised the importance of original journalism and professionally produced content, as well as the investment publishers make in creating it. The introduction of greater transparency, attribution, and publisher controls will help rebalance the relationship between platforms and content creators at a critical moment for the industry.
“However, while it is positive that publishers will be able to opt out of having their content used to fine-tune Google’s AI models, it is disappointing that the control will not be per-feature or per-purpose. Publishers will have to decide whether their content will be on all search AI features or none of them- and if they decide to allow Google to train on their content, then there is no way of opting out specifically of grounding.
“Publishers need to understand not only when their content is being used, but also how it is being used. They should have a genuine choice over whether their content is available on different AI search products, particularly when those responses may reduce the incentive for users to visit the original source.
“The CMA’s commitment to continue monitoring developments in AI-powered search is therefore particularly important. We await the final decisions on fair rankings and user choice, which will play a key role in shaping the future relationship between publishers, platforms, and audiences. The PPA will continue to work closely with the CMA, Google, and our members to ensure the final regime delivers meaningful publisher control, recognises the value of trusted content, and supports a sustainable future for high-quality journalism and editorial brands."
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