Google Hit by Tougher Scrutiny From UK’s Antitrust Watchdog (1)

Alphabet Inc.’s Google became the first company to be designated with so called strategic market status in the UK, exposing the US firm’s online search and advertising business to a closer scrutiny by the country’s antitrust watchdog.

The Competition and Markets Authority said Google’s entrenched market power merits the designation — aimed at ensuring competition in digital markets. The watchdog raised concerns over fairness in Google search results, high advertising costs and artificial intelligence-generated search responses.

“We have found that Google maintains a strategic position in the search and search advertising sector – with more than 90% of searches ...