By Mauro Orru
U.K. antitrust officials said they were probing Google over its search services and how they may affect competition in the country, the first investigation under a new digital markets competition regime that could force the Alphabet-owned company to make changes to its conduct.
The Competition and Markets Authority said the investigation would seek to gauge Google's sway in search and search advertising services and how it affects consumers and businesses including advertisers, news publishers and rival search engines.
"It's our job to ensure people get the full benefit of choice and innovation in search services and get a fair deal - for example in how their data is collected and stored," said Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA. "And for businesses, whether you are a rival search engine, an advertiser or a news organisation, we want to ensure there is a level playing field for all businesses, large and small, to succeed."
Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
01-14-25 0541ET