Google ordered to put clearer links in AI search and let UK publishers opt out

Key points

• UK regulators today ordered Google to put clearer attributions and links to publishers' content in its AI-generated search features.
• The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also said Google must give publishers a way to opt out of AI features in search.
• "In a world first, publishers will now have effective tools to prevent their content being used to power AI features in search, such as AI Overviews," the CMA said today.
• "This will put publishers, like news organizations, in a stronger position to negotiate content deals with Google.
• To boost consumer trust, Google is also now required to make sure that publisher content is properly attributed, using clear links, in AI‑generated search results." The CMA ruled that Google may not penalize publishers for opting out of AI, meaning that Google can't downrank opted-out publishers in general search results.