The United Kingdom has introduced new rules requiring Google to give publishers more control over how their content is used in AI-powered search results. In response, Google announced that it will now allow publishers to opt out of being included in its AI search features.
To make this change, publishers will be able to use a new toggle inside Google Search Console, a free tool that helps website owners manage how their content appears in search results. This setting gives publishers a direct way to decide whether their content can be used in AI-generated summaries.
If a publisher chooses to opt out, their website will no longer appear in Google’s AI-driven features such as AI Overviews, AI Mode, or AI summaries shown in Google Discover. However, the content can still appear in normal search results, meaning only AI-related usage is restricted.
Google highlighted that its AI tools are widely used, noting that AI Overviews already serve billions of users every month. Despite this, the company says it will begin testing the opt-out feature with a small group of UK publishers before expanding it to other regions globally.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) described the move as a major shift in how digital platforms handle publisher content. Regulators say it will strengthen the position of news organizations and other publishers when negotiating how their content is used in AI systems.
The CMA had previously labeled Google as having significant market influence, which allowed regulators to push for these new requirements. Earlier proposals also suggested that publishers should have the right to choose whether their content is used for AI search features or for training standalone AI models.
Alongside the opt-out option, Google will also be required to improve transparency by clearly attributing publisher content used in AI responses. This includes adding more visible links and previews to encourage users to visit the original sources.
Google also confirmed that choosing to opt out will not affect a website’s ranking in traditional search results. However, the company will now show new performance data inside Search Console, giving publishers insights into how often their content appears in AI results and in which regions it is being used.
