Britain’s competition watchdog said Tuesday it plans to designate Google with “strategic market status,” granting it stronger oversight of how the U.S. tech giant runs its search services.

The Competition and Markets Authority said this would be the first designation under its new digital markets regime and would allow it to require Google to provide fairer rankings for businesses on its search platform, according to Reuters.

The CMA also proposed measures to make it easier for users to access rival search engines and give publishers more transparency and control over how their content appears in search results, should the designation take effect in October.

It added that Google should improve data portability to help new businesses develop and launch innovative products.

CMA Chief Executive, Sarah Cardell, acknowledged that Google, which handles over 90% of search queries in the UK, has delivered significant benefits.

However, she said the regulator had identified opportunities to make the search market more competitive and innovative.

She added that the CMA had outlined a roadmap for future action to address Google’s dominance in the search market.

“These targeted and proportionate actions would give UK businesses and consumers more choice and control over how they interact with Google’s search services – as well as unlocking greater opportunities for innovation across the UK tech sector and broader economy,” she said.

Google warned that the proposed designation could carry major implications for businesses and consumers across the UK.

“We’re concerned that the scope of the CMA’s considerations remains broad and unfocused, with a range of interventions being considered before any evidence has been provided,” said Oliver Bethell, Google’s senior director for competition.

Google would be the first company to receive the designation since the regulator was granted new powers earlier this year.