Google has introduced new controls allowing publishers in the United Kingdom to prevent their content from being used in the company’s AI-powered search products.
The move follows regulatory requirements imposed by the UK’s competition authorities aimed at giving publishers greater control over how their content is used in generative AI services.
Through a new setting in Google Search Console, publishers can opt out of having their content appear in AI Overviews, AI Mode and other AI-generated search experiences while remaining visible in traditional search results.
Google said the feature will initially be tested with selected UK publishers before expanding globally.
The company also announced additional attribution measures, including more prominent links within AI-generated responses and expanded reporting metrics to help publishers understand how their content is being used.
Regulators have described the development as a significant step toward strengthening publishers’ negotiating position in discussions over AI content usage.
