The impending regulatory battle between the UK and Google represents a high-stakes test of the country’s national sovereignty in the digital age. Having left the European Union, the UK is now forging its own path on tech regulation, and this first major case under its new domestic law will demonstrate how much influence it can exert over a global tech superpower.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 is a cornerstone of the UK’s post-Brexit regulatory framework. By designating Google with “strategic market status,” the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) is asserting its independent authority to set its own rules for digital markets, rather than simply following the lead of Brussels or Washington.
The outcome will be a measure of the UK’s real-world power. Can a single country, even one with a major economy, force a company with a trillion-dollar valuation to fundamentally change its products and business model within its borders? Google’s response, warning that the UK could miss out on innovation, is a subtle reminder of the company’s own leverage—it can choose where to prioritize the launch of new services.
This case will also test the UK’s ability to collaborate with its allies while maintaining its own approach. Legal experts have noted that the CMA’s action allows it to “follow suit” with the US and EU, suggesting a strategy of alignment. However, the specific remedies the UK chooses may differ, allowing it to tailor its approach to its own national interests.
Ultimately, this confrontation is about more than just search engines. It’s about whether the UK can successfully project power in the 21st-century economy and carve out a distinct and effective role for itself as a sovereign digital regulator on the world stage.