Doug Gurr, the newly appointed chair of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), stated in a recent interview with the Financial Times that his previous roles at Google did not involve lobbying or influencing competition policy. This assertion, made just weeks after assuming the leadership of the UK’s primary competition regulator, has prompted scrutiny from experts concerned about potential conflicts of interest and the regulator’s future approach to Big Tech.
Gurr served as Google’s UK head and later as a vice president responsible for advertising sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, between 2015 and 2019. He joined the CMA in September 2023, succeeding Jonathan Scott. The CMA is currently undertaking several high-profile investigations into the practices of major technology companies, including Google, Apple, and Meta. These investigations cover areas such as digital advertising, mobile ecosystems, and data usage.
Critics argue that Gurr’s extensive career within Google, even if not directly involved in policy-related functions, inevitably shaped his understanding of the industry and could influence his decision-making at the CMA. “The concern isn’t necessarily about explicit lobbying,” explained Dr. Michael Grenfell, Executive Director of the Competition Policy Association, in a statement to World-Today-News.com. “It’s about the inherent perspective someone gains from spending years inside a dominant firm. That perspective can be extremely difficult to shed, even with the best intentions.”
The CMA is currently reviewing Google’s dominance in the digital advertising technology stack, a case that could result in significant remedies, potentially including structural separation of parts of Google’s business. The regulator also recently opened a formal investigation into Apple’s App Store practices, following similar concerns raised by the US Department of Justice and the European Commission. Meta is facing CMA scrutiny over its use of data and its potential impact on competition in the social media market.
Gurr’s appointment follows a period of increased assertiveness from the CMA under Scott, which has not shied away from challenging the practices of large technology companies. In April 2023, the CMA blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing concerns about the impact on competition in the cloud gaming market. This decision demonstrated the CMA’s willingness to take a firm stance against even the most powerful tech firms.
The Financial Times reported Gurr as stating he had “absolutely no involvement” in lobbying or influencing competition policy while at Google. He further emphasized his commitment to impartiality and the CMA’s independence. Although, this has not fully allayed concerns. Some observers point to the revolving door phenomenon – the movement of personnel between government and the industries they regulate – as a systemic issue that undermines public trust in regulatory bodies.
The European Commission has also faced similar scrutiny regarding the backgrounds of its officials involved in competition cases against Big Tech. Vestager’s cabinet included individuals with prior experience at firms subject to antitrust investigations, prompting calls for stricter rules on conflicts of interest. The UK government has been reviewing its rules on appointments to public bodies, including the CMA, but no changes have yet been implemented.
The CMA is scheduled to publish its initial findings in the digital advertising investigation by the end of 2023. The outcome of this case, and the CMA’s approach to other ongoing investigations, will be closely watched by the technology industry and competition regulators around the world. The CMA has yet to respond to a request for further comment on the concerns raised regarding Gurr’s background.
