UK triggers new powers to regulate Google search

STORY: Britain designated Google as having strategic market status in online search on Friday.It paves the way for what authorities called 'proportionate, targeted' interventions.That would be the first use of the country's new regulatory powers to tackle the dominance of Big Tech.The move by the country's Competition and Markets Authority allows them to compel the U.S. company to change the way it operates.The regulator said it's not a finding of wrongdoing and does not introduce any immediate requirements.Competition regulators have long had Alphabet-owned Google in their sights.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation into Google and Amazon's search advertising last month.While the U.S. Department of Justice wants to force Google to sell off some of its advertising technology tools.The regulator said on Friday that while Google's Gemini AI assistant was not in the scope of the designation, the position would be kept under review.It added that other AI-based search features, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, were included in the designation.Google said last month it would invest $6.65 billion in Britain.

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