UK Watchdog Proposes Google Search Choices Including AI

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority on Sept. 23, 2026, proposed requiring Google to offer Android and Chrome users a choice of search providers at first setup or use, plus an annual prompt to reconsider the default. Eligible AI assistants, including ChatGPT and Perplexity, could appear on those screens if they meet technical and safety requirements. Providers shown would have to fairly attribute publisher content. CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said, "The way people search for information online is changing." Google has held strategic market status in the U.K. for general search and search advertising since October 2025. The CMA opened a user-choice consultation in January 2026 and in June 2026 set a publisher conduct requirement, fair-ranking protocols, and free data-portability standards for search history. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment, per a Dow Jones report. No factual disputes were found in the record. Feedback closes Oct. 9, 2026, with a final decision expected by year-end. Rated coverage was center-only.