• by Laurie Sullivan , June 4, 2026

Online publishers will soon have the ability to opt out of their websites from Google AI Overviews and AI Mode through a new "Search Console" control.

A small group of U.K. publishers will see the option roll out first before the feature expands globally.

Publishers that opt out will not receive traffic or ad impressions, and the decision will not affect the site's ranking in traditional search, according to Google.

Many publishers have complained about a significant drop in website referral traffic since Google began placing artificial intelligence (AI) summaries at the top of its search results page.The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), as part of the Digital Markets Act, has imposed a "Conduct Requirement (CR)" on Google that covers the use of publisher content in AI-based search results.

The CMA suggests this change gives publishers a stronger position from which to negotiate content deals with Google, and creates a fair outcome for publishers and consumers while improving Google’s search services in the U.K.

The change is also intended to strengthen consumer trust, with Google ensuring that publisher content is clearly attributed with links in AI-generated search results.

“Today, we have introduced a world-first requirement on Google’s search services in the UK, enabling fair treatment, greater transparency and meaningful choice for businesses and consumers,” Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, wrote in a blog post, adding: “With features like AI Overviews rapidly reshaping online search, it is crucial that content publishers, including news organizations, have appropriate bargaining power over how their content is used.”

The changes are part of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) new "conduct requirement for Google search," which describes new actions the company must take under the U.K.’s digital markets competition rules.

In May, Google announced changes to its search platform to further embed AI technologies, which could change how search results are presented to users in the U.K.

Equity research analysts at U.K. firm Panmure Liberum, in a research note published Thursday, described the move as "positive for all publishers and particularly owners of proprietary content."

Mrinalini Loew, general manager ofGoogle Search Ecosystem, described a new set of tools in a blog post published on Wednesday, including new tools and controls in Search Console, performance insights and updated best practices.

Google increased the number of inline links directly in responses and added website previews to encourage people to click through, with the intent that publishers would see a benefit from AI Overviews, which has more than 2.5 billion monthly active users and more than one billion monthly users of AI Mode.

In the blog post, the CMA said it will monitor how Google implements these changes, including assessing the implications for businesses. If necessary, the CMA will require further changes.