UK mandates Google offer AI search opt-out for publishers

The U.K. has forced Google to give publishers an opt-out from AI-generated search results. Google announced compliance on Wednesday, introducing a toggle in Search Console that lets publishers block their content from AI Overviews, AI Mode, and AI Overviews in Discover. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) calls this a "world first" that strengthens publishers' negotiating power for content deals. Google will initially test the option with a subset of U.K. publishers before global rollout. The CMA designated Google as having "strategic market status" last October, and in January demanded the opt-out choice. Google must also ensure proper attribution with clear links in AI features, and has increased inline links and added website previews. Opting out will not affect traditional search rankings. Google will provide new impression metrics in Search Console to potentially dissuade opt-outs, with more metrics planned.