Britain adds new rule limiting Google’s AI Overviews

June 3 (UPI) — Publishers in Britain will now have stronger negotiating power to protect their intellectual property from Google’s AI Overviews, thanks to a rule by the government’s Competition and Markets Authority.

Google will also be required to ensure that content generated by artificial intelligence is properly attributed with clear links in its content.

The rule comes after the CMA’s decision to designate Google with strategic market status in general search services. The designation allows the CMA to introduce targeted rules, known as conduct requirements, for Google’s search activities if proportionate for the purposes of ensuring fair dealing, open choices or trust and transparency, the CMA said in a press release.

Media companies have complained of a drop in clicks, which leads to a loss of revenue, since Google created its AI overviews at the top of its search page, The Guardian reported. People tend to read the summaries instead of clicking on the media websites.

Now, companies can opt out of their sites being used for the overview while staying in the traditional search

“U.K. news publishers produce some of the most valuable content in the world, but until now dominant platforms like Google have been allowed to dictate the terms of how that content is used,” said News Media Association Theo Bamber in a statement. “The legally enforceable conduct requirements for Google Search published today are a significant step towards leveling the playing field and building a fair, transparent digital economy where premium content is properly respected and fairly compensated.”

The NMA represents British publishers.

“[Enforcement is] the job of the CMA to make this happen, but it needs strong and consistent political support. Only then will we see meaningful progress towards a system of fair and reasonable payment for publisher content which is crucial for the future of high-quality journalism,” Bamber added.

Google said it would start testing Wednesday on some British media sites, which can manage how their links show up in the AI content. The goal is to roll out the goals globally, The Guardian reported.

“Today, we have introduced a world‑first requirement on Google’s search services in the U.K., enabling fair treatment, greater transparency and meaningful choice for businesses and consumers,” said Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, in a statement.

“With features like AI Overviews rapidly reshaping online search, it is crucial that content publishers, including news organizations, have appropriate bargaining power over how their content is used. At the same time, these measures will help tens of millions of U.K. search users better understand and trust the information presented to them.”

The CMA said Google is used in more than 90% of general searches in Britain, and news organizations and publishers have relied on search engines to drive customers to their sites. The organization estimated that search advertising costs about $670 per U.K. household.