Publishers in UK can opt out of Google AI search results

Online publishers can choose not to appear in the AI Overviews of Google search results n the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced.

The competition regulator said this would "put publishers, like news organisations, in a stronger position to negotiate content deals with Google".

Many websites have complained that they have seen a large drop in traffic since Google started placing AI summaries at the top of its search results page .

The CMA also said Google must properly attribute publishers' content which appears in its AI search results, with clear links to their sites.

"It is crucial that content publishers, including news organisations, have appropriate bargaining power over how their content is used," said CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell.

She said this was a "world-first requirement," adding it would result in "fair treatment, greater transparency and meaningful choice for businesses and consumers".

Google controls more than 90% of the online search market in the UK according to the CMA, and for almost 30 years websites and publishers have relied heavily on its search results to drive users to their businesses.

However, many have said they've seen a drop in traffic since Google moved links to other sites down the search results page, with AI overviews displayed at the top instead.