Consultation outcome

Consultation on proposed commitments in respect of Google’s ‘Privacy Sandbox’ browser changes

This consultation has concluded

Detail of outcome

26 November 2021: Following the CMA’s assessment of the consultation responses, Google offered modified commitments in Case 50972 on 19 November 2021.

On 26 November 2021, the CMA published a notice of intention to accept the modified commitments offered by Google, and has invited representations from interested third parties on the modified commitments.


Original consultation

Summary

The CMA is inviting observations and evidence on commitments offered by Google in relation to the CMA’s investigation into Google’s proposals to remove third party cookies and other functionalities from its Chrome browser.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) invites views on the commitments, offered by Google, to address the CMA’s competition concerns in the context of an investigation under the Competition Act 1998. That CMA investigation relates to Google’s proposals to remove third party cookies and other functionalities from its Chrome browser.

Any person wishing to comment on the proposed commitments should submit written representations to Angela Nissyrios and Simon Deeble at 50972-Consultation@cma.gov.uk by 8 July 2021 at 5pm.

Please quote the case reference 50972 in all correspondence related to this matter. Any non-disclosure agreement a party may have in place with Google should not prevent them from responding to this consultation. Google has confirmed that it will not use any confidentiality provision with a party to prevent them from responding to this consultation.

The CMA is particularly interested to hear any views on whether the proposed commitments are sufficient to address the CMA’s competition concerns regarding:

  • unequal access to the functionality associated with user tracking

  • self-preferencing Google’s own ad tech providers and owned and operated ad inventory

  • imposition of unfair terms on Chrome’s web users

More information can be found on the Investigation into Google’s ‘Privacy Sandbox’ browser changes case page.

Documents

Published 11 June 2021
Last updated 26 November 2021 + show all updates
  1. Consultation outcome published.

  2. First published.