LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Britain on Friday designated

Google with "strategic market status" in online search, the

first time it has deployed new powers to tackle the dominance of

big tech and paving the way for interventions it deems

necessary.

The Competition and Markets Authority's move enables it to

compel the Alphabet-owned company to change the way it operates

in Britain in the search market.

The regulator, which can impose fines for non-compliance and

has direct enforcement powers, said in June its actions would be

"targeted and proportionate", and would unlock innovation in the

British tech sector and broader economy.

The proposed steps from the CMA in June included fairer

ranking in search and offering consumers more access to

alternatives search engines.