Google given special status by watchdog that could force it to change UK search

The UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has designated Google with a "strategic market status" (SMS) in its search and search advertising services. This designation means that Google has significant market power and will now face tighter regulation. The CMA's decision allows the regulator to enforce changes to Google's business practices in the UK. This move aims to address concerns about Google's dominant position in the search market and potential impacts on competition and consumer choice. The specific changes that the CMA may enforce are not yet known, but the designation of Google as having SMS could lead to a range of interventions, such as requiring the company to share data with rivals or adjusting its advertising practices. The article suggests that this decision by the CMA represents a significant development in the regulation of major tech companies in the UK.