CMA targets Google's search dominance

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority is pushing Google to let Android and Chrome users choose their preferred search provider instead of defaulting to Google's own engine.

Three main demands from the regulator

The CMA wants Google and smartphone makers to offer search choices on first use and yearly after. It also demands AI assistants get equal choice, and all search providers must credit publisher content clearly.

Yearly reminders would be new

UK users already choose their search provider on Android and Chrome, but the CMA's proposal to add yearly reminders would be a new requirement forcing users to reconsider their choice annually.

CMA chief explains the reasoning

Sarah Cardell, CMA's chief executive, said the proposal responds to AI assistants becoming search services themselves. Google's choice screens don't include them, so the rules must adapt to future competition.

“We've listened carefully to feedback and are responding quickly to the rise of AI assistants, which people are increasingly using as their search service, but aren't included on Google's choice screens.”

Earlier CMA rules already in place

The CMA imposed a rule on June third allowing publishers to opt out of AI results. On June seventeenth, it introduced fair Google search ranking and data portability requirements.

Apple prepares for AI assistant rules

Apple has reportedly introduced private hooks into macOS twenty seven and iOS twenty seven that let apps replace Siri AI's server with third-party models like Claude, possibly anticipating new AI assistant regulations.