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UK regulator forces Google to let publishers opt out of AI model training
Britain's Competition and Markets Authority introduces new conduct requirements for Google search, focusing on AI training opt-outs and clearer attribution for publishers.
UK regulator forces Google to let publishers opt out of AI model training
Google must provide clear attribution in AI generated search results, British regulator says. [File photo] / Reuters

Britain's competition regulator said on Wednesday it has imposed new conduct requirements on Google's search services, including allowing publishers to opt out of training the US tech giant's AI models, as the watchdog ramps up its oversight.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has flagged concerns about Google's dominance in search services.

Google accounts for more than 90 percent of UK queries, and the regulator had been consulting on the matter to ensure effective competition.

The CMA on Wednesday said the requirements imposed on Google under the digital markets competition regime gave "publishers more control and stronger bargaining power over the use of their content," while securing a fair deal.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours.

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Google changes its business style

The regulator said that the company will now also be required to make sure content from publishers, including news organisations, is properly attributed in AI-generated search results, using clear links.

Google's search services have come under regulatory scrutiny worldwide, including in the United States and the European Union, and in March, the company said it was developing new search controls to address British competition concerns.

"Google has recently announced changes to its search business and the requirements we've introduced today are designed to respond to what Google is doing now and in the future," CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said in a statement.

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SOURCE:Reuters