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Wed, 03 Jun 2026

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 Publishers in UK can opt out of Google AI search results

The Competition and Markets Authority says it would put publishers "in a stronger position to negotiate content deals with Google".

* Online publishers in the UK can now choose not to appear in Google's AI Overviews, which will put them in a stronger position to negotiate content deals with Google.
* The move is due to a requirement by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that Google must properly attribute publishers' content and provide clear links to their sites.
* Publishers who opt out of appearing in AI search results will not receive traffic or impressions from Google's generative AI results, but it won't affect their ranking in main search results.
* The CMA has given Google nine months to implement the changes, which will be trialled in the UK before rolling out globally.
* The move is seen as a "world-first requirement" and aims to result in fair treatment, greater transparency, and meaningful choice for businesses and consumers.