More recently, it has turned its attention to partnerships between Big Tech and AI companies — an area in which it is seen to be out in front among its international counterparts, who will be following developments closely.
The world’s largest tech firms are also set to be on the receiving end of new powers the CMA took hold of in January to regulate digital markets. The authority opened an investigation into Google’s search business last week and a second probe was expected before the end of this month into Google’s and Apple’s mobile app stores, browsers and operating systems.
But those firms caution that the CMA’s new powers don’t sit comfortably with the government’s growth mission, something the CMA strongly disputes. “The regulator needs to take care to promote the innovation and growth that ministers have rightly asked regulators to prioritize,” warned big tech lobby group the CCIA last week after the Google announcement.
The CMA also worked closely with its U.S. and European counterparts, leading on investigations like that of Microsoft’s takeover of Activision, but with the election of Donald Trump the mood has shifted in the U.S. against other countries’ regulators enforcing and fining American tech firms.
Questions now turn to where Bokkerink’s departure leaves the CMA’s chief executive Sarah Cardell and its wider strategy which it published last week. Cardell said Bokkerink had “tirelessly championed consumers, competition and a level playing field for business.”
It also leaves those hoping for decisive CMA action against U.S. tech firms jittery. The CMA is shortly due to announce a provisional decision on an investigation into the cloud market, affecting Microsoft and Amazon.
“We urge the regulator to stay the course and take decisive action to create a fairer, more competitive cloud market that benefits businesses, consumers, and the wider digital economy,” said Nicky Stewart, from the Open CloudCoalition which is pushing for CMA action.
Sam Blewett contributed to this report.