Google commits to competition watchdog oversight on privacy changes

A Google search box

Search engine giant Google has offered new proposals on the way it uses customer data following an intervention by the competition watchdog.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has laid out a series of commitments from Google over its Privacy Sandbox plans that risked squeezing competition by removing third-party cookies and other functionalities from its Chrome browser.

Investigators raised concerns that plans by Google to hide data – in the name of privacy – would impede competition in digital advertising markets.

This could have cause advertising spending to become even more concentrated on Google, harming consumers who ultimately pay for the cost of advertising, the CMA said.

It may undermine the ability of online publishers such as newspapers to generate revenue and continue to produce valuable content in the future, reducing choice for consumers, it added.

As a result of the changes proposed by Google, the regulator said privacy could improve without adversely affecting users.

The CMA launched its investigation in June this year and heard from more than 40 third parties, who raised concerns that competition would be hit.

Google has now committed to greater transparency and engagement, alongside committing to no remove certain functionality before third-party cookies.

The tech giant added it will ensure the CMA will continue to play a role in monitoring the business and be mentioned in future key public announcements.

Staff will be told…

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