UK competition watchdog to probe Google in first act under new digital markets regime

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The UK’s competition watchdog has opened an investigation into Google to determine if its position in search services should warrant a special status for the company, which could see it bound by certain conduct rules. 

The Competition and Markets Authority said on Tuesday that it would look at whether Google’s position in search and advertising activities “are delivering good outcomes for people and businesses in the UK”. 

Google was approached by the Financial Times for comment.

The investigation is the first under the new digital markets competition regime that came into force this month. The new rules will see the CMA decide whether a small group of companies should be handed “strategic market status” and be forced to abide by certain rules based on their size and influence in certain digital markets.