NMA Calls For DMU To Prioritise Designation Of Google Search And Google Ad Tech

An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found that Google is using anti-competitive practices in open-display ad tech, which it believes could be harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers.

News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said: “The Competition and Market Authority’s provisional findings today state explicitly that Google’s self-preferencing of its own ad exchange causes harm to advertisers and publishers, and in turn consumers.

“In order to tackle these damaging impacts on our creative sectors, we need the new digital markets regulator to start its work investigating the large tech platforms as quickly as possible, with Google Search and Google ad tech as top priorities for designation.

“Robust conduct requirements will be critical to the success of the regime, and the Digital Markets Unit should be able to use pro-competitive interventions where needed.

“By levelling the playing field, we can create a digital economy for the UK which fosters genuine competition, powering growth in these critical markets.”