UK CMA Imposes New Rules on Google for Fairer Search Practices

• •CMA introduces two conduct requirements for Google to enhance search transparency.
• •Businesses reported Google's ranking practices as unfair and lacking transparency.
• •Google must allow users to port their data to third-party services.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has introduced two new conduct requirements for Google to enhance transparency and fairness in search rankings. The first requirement mandates Google to improve the clarity of its ranking processes, addressing complaints from UK businesses about unfair practices. The second requirement allows users to port their data to authorized third parties, promoting innovation and personalized services. These measures follow earlier actions in June that granted publishers more control over their content used in Google's AI features. The CMA aims to ensure that businesses can trust Google's ranking systems, which are crucial for their growth and investment. Google has six months to implement the ranking changes and three months for the data portability requirement. The CMA's actions are part of ongoing efforts to regulate Google's market power in the UK.