The European Commission has launched a new antitrust investigation into Google. The focus is on the company’s use of publishers’ online content and YouTube videos to train its AI systems. This probe raises concerns about potential abuse of dominance and inadequate compensation for content creators. It marks the second major EU investigation targeting Google within a month.
EU Examines Google’s Use of Publisher Content
The Commission is investigating whether Google uses online articles, website content, and YouTube videos to fuel its artificial intelligence products. These include AI Overviews. The issue arises from not offering publishers fair compensation or opt-out options. These AI-generated summaries appear above traditional search results in more than 100 countries and rely on data gathered from across the web.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera warned that Google might leverage its dominant search engine position to impose unfair conditions on publishers. The work of publishers forms the backbone of the online information ecosystem. Ribera stated that a healthy information ecosystem depends on publishers having the resources to produce quality content. The Commission will not allow gatekeepers to dictate those choices. Regulators are especially concerned that YouTube content may also train Google’s Gemini AI models.
Google Rejects Allegations
Google quickly dismissed the publishers’ complaint that triggered the investigation. A spokesperson argued that the case risks stifling innovation at a moment when the technology landscape is rapidly evolving. The spokesperson emphasized that Europeans deserve access to the latest technologies. Therefore, Google will continue collaborating with news and creative industries as they adapt to the AI era.
The company maintains that its AI systems rely on publicly available information legally. They assert that AI Overviews are designed to complement, not replace, traditional search results.
Publishers Accuse Google of Exploiting Online Content
Several organizations critical of Big Tech welcomed the EU’s action. They include the Independent Publishers Alliance, Movement for an Open Web, and British non-profit Foxglove. These groups have long argued that Google’s AI products heavily rely on unlicensed content. Lawyer Tim Cowen, who advises these groups, criticized Google for breaking the deal that underpins the internet. He noted that AI-generated products exploit website content while altering the traditional value exchange between search engines and content creators.
Expansion of AI Overviews Raises Concerns
Google expanded AI Overviews earlier this year, integrating them into search results in over 100 countries. The company also started placing advertisements within AI-generated summaries in May. This move prompted concerns about how ad revenue aligns with the use of externally produced content. Critics fear that publishers could lose visibility and revenue as AI-generated answers replace conventional webpage links in prime search result positions.
EU Scrutiny of Spam Policies and Additional Investigations
Alongside the AI training probe, EU regulators are examining whether Google’s spam policies disadvantage publishers. They are also checking if these policies restrict their visibility in search results. If the Commission finds violations of competition law, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its annual global revenue. This investigation comes just a week after the EU launched a separate probe into Meta’s plans to limit AI competitors’ access to WhatsApp.
Growing Transatlantic Tensions
The case adds complexity to EU–U.S. relations, which have become increasingly strained as Europe implements stringent digital regulations affecting American tech giants. Measures like the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) have already reshaped Big Tech operations in Europe. AI enforcement appears to be the next frontier. For Google, an adverse ruling could mean hefty fines, new licensing obligations, and greater publisher control over AI training practices.
