CMA To Investigate Google

Google has come under fire recently from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), due to concerns around search dominance. This will come as a blow to Google as they have faced similar investigations in the U.S.

The CMA will investigate if Google is using its position to prevent rivals from innovating, and create potential barriers to entry in the market. The CMA will also explore if Google is influencing AI development in a way that reduces competition for its own search functions.

The CMA has reiterated the importance of competition and how a lack of a monopoly would keep search costs down. The CMA wants to level the playing field so businesses big and small can succeed.

In the US already, the government wants Google to sell its Chrome browser after a judge ruled that there was an illegal monopoly in search and related advertising.

The investigation done by the CMA must be concluded in nine months and could have several implications. For example, Google may need to make the data it collects accessible to other businesses. Additionally, publishers may be given more control over how their data is used.

In 2024, we saw a surprising win for Google when they overturned a similar antitrust case that the EU had taken against them. It will be interesting to see if the case that the CMA has taken against Google will go any differently. If the case succeeds, and Google’s dominance is curbed in the UK there could be opportunities for new search engines or advertising platforms to enter the market. This would then naturally have an effect on the Irish market.

source: Silicon Republic Politico