Google must let publishers opt out of AI Search features, rules UK

Online publishers are getting more control over whether their websites appear in Google’s AI Search features, thanks to a UK regulatory ruling. The new conduct rule imposed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requires Google to let website owners keep their content out of features like AI Overviews, and prevent it from being used for the “fine-tuning” of Google’s AI models. “In a world first, publishers will now have effective tools to prevent their content being used to power AI features in search, such as AI Overviews,” the CMA announced. “This will put publishers, like news organizations, in a stronger position to negotiate content deals with Google.” Google will also have to ensure that publisher content is “properly attributed, using clear links,” in AI‑generated search results. According to the CMA, these requirements will “secure a fairer deal for publishers and consumers and improve Google’s search services in the UK.” Google has already started to roll features out to a “subset of website owners in the UK” in response to the ruling, and plans to make them available globally after testing. The first feature is a new toggle in the Search Console that allows publishers to manage how their content is used in AI Search tools, including AI Overviews, AI Mode, or AI Overviews in Discover. …