Google search publisher conduct requirement
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has imposed a conduct requirement on Google, in relation to its general search services.
Imposition of conduct requirement
3 June 2026: Following the CMA’s decision to designate Google as having strategic market status in respect of general search services and public consultation on proposed conduct requirements, the CMA has imposed the publisher conduct requirement (the publisher CR) on Google.
- (3.6.26)
- (3.6.26)
- (3.6.26)
- (3.6.26)
The publisher CR requires Google to:
- provide publishers with effective controls over the use of their search content in generative AI
- publish clear, comprehensible and user-friendly information explaining how publishers’ search content is used by Google in its generative AI
- provide publishers with clear and detailed metrics on user engagement with their search content in search generative AI features
- take reasonable steps to ensure that search content is attributed clearly and accurately in general search, and that end users have a clear means to access that search content
- publish clear, comprehensible and user-friendly information explaining its approach to attribution
Our guide to the UK’s digital markets competition regime explains how conduct requirements work.
Updates to this page
Published 3 June 2026