UK competition watchdog gives publishers control over AI use in Google search

Britain’s competition watchdog has ordered Google to give publishers greater control over how their material is used in the company’s AI-powered search products, in a move it described as a world first.

The Competition and Markets Authority said publishers will have to be given practical tools to stop their content being used to support Google’s generative AI services, including AI Overviews and AI Mode, for users in the UK. It also wants clearer linking and attribution in AI-generated search results, alongside the option for publishers to exclude their material from being used to train AI models.

The intervention is part of a broader push by the regulator to curb Google’s influence in the UK search market after designating the company as strategically important in online search and search advertising. The CMA said the new rules are intended to improve publishers’ bargaining position when negotiating commercial deals with Google.

The watchdog had already signalled the direction of travel earlier this year, when it published draft proposals after concluding that some news publishers had seen traffic fall following the rollout of AI Overviews, which place summary answers above traditional search links and can reduce visits to original articles.

Google said it was working with regulators, including the CMA, and noted that it had begun testing a new control allowing website owners to manage how their links and content appear in generative AI search features.

CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said the measures were designed to deliver fairer treatment, more transparency and real choice for businesses and consumers, while helping UK users better understand the information they are shown.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The article was published on June 4, 2026, which is recent. However, similar reports from June 3, 2026, are available, indicating that the news was already in the public domain prior to this publication. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/ce2016a4519fbe234799e009bac8f120?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
7

Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell and Google’s General Manager of Search Ecosystem, Mrinalini Loew. While these quotes are consistent with other reports, they cannot be independently verified without access to the original sources. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/ce2016a4519fbe234799e009bac8f120?utm_source=openai))

Source reliability

Score:
5

Notes:
The article originates from News Today, a publication with limited online presence and credibility. This raises concerns about the reliability and independence of the source.

Plausibility check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims made in the article align with recent reports from reputable sources, such as the Associated Press and TechRadar, confirming the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority’s order to Google. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/ce2016a4519fbe234799e009bac8f120?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The article presents information consistent with other reports but originates from a less reputable source, and the quotes cannot be independently verified. These factors raise concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the content.