Protecting innovation and growth in the UK
Today the CMA has announced its proposed decision to designate Google Search with ‘strategic market status’, along with a roadmap of potential interventions. The outcome could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in the UK.
The positive impact of Google Search on the UK is undeniable. Our tools and services contribute billions of pounds a year to the UK — £118 billion in 2023 alone.
The CMA has today reiterated that ‘strategic market status’ does not imply that anti-competitive behaviour has taken place — yet this announcement presents clear challenges to critical areas of our business in the UK. We’re concerned that the scope of the CMA’s considerations remains broad and unfocused, with a range of interventions being considered before any evidence has been provided.
Delivering certainty matters to businesses like ours that relentlessly invest in innovation. It also matters to every UK business that benefits from services like Search to reach customers — and to every user that relies on Search to get things done.
The UK has historically benefitted from early access to our latest innovations, but punitive regulations could change that. Proportionate, evidence-based regulation will be essential to preventing the CMA’s roadmap from becoming a roadblock to growth in the UK.
As we move into the next phase of this process, we will continue working constructively with the CMA to avoid measures that would limit opportunities for UK businesses and consumers.
