Technology and Science03 June, 20262 min read
UK CMA Orders Google To Let Publishers Opt Out Of AI Search Scraping
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CMA orders Google to allow UK publishers to opt out of AI-generated search overviews. Google must provide a clear opt-out mechanism and clearer attribution/links in AI features.
CMA forces Google opt-out
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority ordered Google to allow news sites to opt out of having their content scraped to feed AI overviews and other artificial intelligence services for British users. The CMA said the decision would require Google to give publishers “effective tools” to prevent their content from being used to power generative artificial intelligence services and AI search features like AI Overviews and AI Mode.
The regulator also mandated that Google properly cite publisher content in AI-generated search results with clear links and let publishers opt out of having their content used to fine-tune AI models. ABC News reported the CMA framed the move as a “world first,” and said it was using new digital powers to loosen Google’s “stranglehold on the U.K’s online search market.”
Google and CMA responses
Google said it was beginning to test a new control that lets website owners manage how their links and content appear in generative AI Search features. ABC News quoted Google general manager of search ecosystem Mrinalini Loew saying, “Today, we’re beginning to test a new control that lets website owners manage how their links and content appear in generative AI Search features.”
The CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said the measures will result in “fair treatment, greater transparency and meaningful choice for businesses and consumers” and will help tens of millions of British users “better understand and trust the information presented to them.” The BBC added that sites that opt out will not receive traffic or impressions from Google’s generative AI results, while Google said withdrawing from AI search features would not affect how they are ranked in the main search results.
Timing, compliance, and leverage
The CMA said Google has nine months to implement the changes and must submit and publish regular compliance reports to the CMA, with the BBC noting the regulator wants “important parts” implemented earlier. The BBC reported that Will Hayter, the CMA’s executive director for digital markets, told the BBC’s Today programme that users would see the difference and it was important “people can trust what they're reading”.
Ars Technica reported the CMA ruled that Google may not penalize publishers for opting out of AI, meaning it can’t downrank opted-out publishers in general search results. Ars Technica also said the CMA expects important parts of the controls to become available to publishers well before the nine-month deadline, and that Google said it would comply with the CMA decision.