UK competition regulator takes issue with Google’s ad tech practices

LONDON — Britain’s competition authority on Friday issued a statement of objections to Google’s advertising technology practices that the regulator says are impacting competition in the U.K.

In a statement, the Competition and Markets Authority said the US internet search giant “has harmed competition by using its dominant position in online display advertising to favour its own advertising technology services”.

The “vast majority” of the UK’s thousands of publishers and advertisers use Google’s technology to bid for and sell space to display ads, the CMA said.

The regulator added that it was also “concerned that Google is actively using its dominant position in this sector to privilege its own services.” The so-called “self-preferencing” of services by tech giants is a major concern for regulators scrutinizing these companies.

The CMA also noted that Google was putting its rivals at a disadvantage in advertising technology, preventing them from competing on a “level playing field”.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.

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