LONDON (AP) — Britain’s antitrust watchdog on Friday labeled Google a “strategic” player in the online search advertising market, paving the way for regulators to force the company to change its business practices to ensure more competition in that market.

The Competition and Markets Authority said its investigation found that the U.S. tech giant has “strategic market status" because it has “substantial and entrenched market power” in general search and search advertising.

It marks the first time the watchdog has issued the designation since new U.K. digital rules took effect at the start of the year.

The label doesn't imply any wrongdoing. But the regulator said it means it has the power to consider using “proportionate, targeted" measures to make sure “general search services are op

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