The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a bold antitrust investigation into Google Search and its 90%+ market share.
Why now?
New regulations, effective this month, have empowered the CMA to scrutinize Big Tech like never before. First on their radar: Google’s search dominance and its role in AI and advertising.
Key areas of investigation:
Barriers to entry for competitors
Whether Google gives preference to its own services
Its use of consumer data without proper consent
The stakes?
The CMA has the power to impose dramatic remedies:
• Breaking up business units
• Opening search and ad platforms to competitors
• Lowering search ad costs, saving UK households £500/year.
Meanwhile, competition from AI players like ChatGPT and Perplexity is growing. Google’s response? Gemini—its answer to AI-driven search innovation.
My take:
Google’s dominance is a testament to its superior technology and user trust. But mixing innovation with monopolistic practices? That’s a fine line.
What’s your perspective? Should the CMA level the playing field, or is this a punishment for success?