UK authorities are considering granting Google "strategic player" status, which could lead to strict regulations on its search services.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a public consultation to assess whether Google should be granted "strategic market player" status. This classification, introduced by the Digital Markets Act, allows the CMA to impose strict measures, including substantial fines. If Google is so designated, it will have to implement measures such as choice screens for users, fair rankings of search results and data portability. Google has warned that these changes could significantly affect business and consumers in the UK.