Online publishers in the UK can now opt out of appearing in Google’s AI-generated search results, giving them more leverage in negotiations with the tech giant. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced this move to empower publishers, especially news organisations, in content deals.

The change comes as many websites have complained about a significant drop in traffic since Google began using AI overviews at the top of its search results page. These summaries often replace direct links to other sites, reducing visibility and potentially revenue for publishers.

Google is testing features that allow site owners to remove their content from these AI search results, starting first in the UK before a global rollout. The CMA has also mandated proper attribution for publishers' content appearing in Google’s AI searches, ensuring clear links back to their sites.

This development is hailed as a significant step towards a fairer digital economy, particularly by groups like the News Media Association. However, it remains to be seen how this will impact overall traffic and revenue for publishers who opt out of AI overviews.