- The European Commission investigates whether Google is using publishers’ content without fair compensation for AI summaries
- Concerns over unfair terms and market advantage as publishers and creators warn of traffic and revenue loss
- Potential for significant fines and remedies if breaches of EU competition rules are confirmed
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into whether Google is breaching competition rules by using publishers’ and creators’ content to generate AI summaries in search results and on YouTube.
According to the Commission, the probe will assess “to what extent the generation of AI Overviews and AI Mode by Google is based on web publishers’ content without appropriate compensation for that, and without the possibility for publishers to refuse without losing access to Google Search.”
Many publishers rely on Google for audiences and fear the consequences of opting out. Regulators are also examining YouTube amid concerns that Google may be training AI on videos “without appropriate compensation to creators and without offering them the possibility to refuse such use of their content.”
The inquiry centres on whether Google is imposing terms that disadvantage publishers and rival AI developers, and whether its strength in search is shaping the emerging AI market. “AI is bringing remarkable innovation and many benefits for people and businesses across Europe, but this progress cannot come at the expense of the principles at the heart of our societies,” said Teresa Ribera, EU competition chief. “This is why we are investigating whether Google may have imposed unfair terms and conditions on publishers and content creators, while placing rival AI models developers at a disadvantage, in breach of EU competition rules.”
The investigation follows complaints from national publisher groups and independent organisations, along with a lawsuit by Penske Media Corporation, owner of Rolling Stone, Variety and other titles, which alleges Google’s AI summaries use its journalism without consent and have reduced site traffic and revenue. Groups across several EU countries, including Italy’s federation of newspaper publishers, argue that AI Overviews and the newer AI Mode act as “traffic killers” by summarising material users would otherwise click through to read.
The Commission is using existing competition law rather than the Digital Markets Act. If it finds breaches, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global turnover and be required to change its practices. Regulators are also reviewing how Google applies its spam policies and AI advertising rules.
Google pushed back, saying the complaint “risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever. Europeans deserve to benefit from the latest technologies and we will continue to work closely with the news and creative industries as they transition to the AI era.” The company has previously described legal claims over AI Overviews as without merit.
Publishers say industry data shows measurable drops in referral traffic and revenues where AI summaries appear, and some report that other AI companies have struck licensing deals while Google has not. The Commission will examine those claims and whether publishers and creators have any real choice to refuse use of their work without losing search visibility.
The Commission has not set a timetable for the investigation.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://deadline.com/2025/12/google-eu-antitrust-probe-ai-summaries-publishers-1236643119/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://apnews.com/article/a0267a57b55849b1855ebe08d0788c45 – The European Union has initiated an antitrust investigation into Google’s use of online content for artificial intelligence (AI) models and services. The European Commission is examining whether Google has unfairly utilised content from web publishers and YouTube without proper compensation or consent to develop its AI tools, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. These services generate summaries and chatbot-style answers in search results. Regulators are also concerned that Google’s use of YouTube videos to train its AI may exclude competitors from accessing similar resources, potentially stifling competition. Google responded by defending its practices, claiming the probe could hinder innovation. The investigation is based on existing EU competition rules, not the newer Digital Markets Act, and could lead to fines of up to 10% of Google’s global revenue if violations are confirmed. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera emphasised that AI innovation must not come at the cost of fair competition and equitable treatment for content creators.
- https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-launches-antitrust-probe-into-googles-use-online-content-ai-purposes-2025-12-09/ – The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation into Google over its use of online publisher content and YouTube videos to train its artificial intelligence models, particularly AI Overviews. This scrutiny comes amid growing concerns over Big Tech’s dominance in the emerging AI sector. The European Commission is examining whether Google is exploiting its powerful position as a search engine by using content without fair compensation or an option to opt out, potentially imposing unfair conditions on publishers. YouTube content usage is also under review. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera emphasised the importance of safeguarding publishers’ resources to maintain a healthy information ecosystem. Google responded by warning that the complaint risks hindering innovation in an increasingly competitive market and reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with news and creative industries during the AI transition. The probe follows a July complaint by independent publishers and organisations like the Independent Publishers Alliance, Movement for an Open Web, and Foxglove, who allege Google is prioritising its AI product Gemini over fair search practices. Additionally, Google’s spam policy and its AI advertising practices are under investigation. This is the second EU probe into Google in a month, highlighting rising regulatory tensions, including a parallel EU inquiry into Meta’s AI-related actions.
- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/16/google-ai-overviews-italian-news-publishers-demand-investigation – FIEG, the Italian federation of newspaper publishers, has submitted a formal complaint to Agcom, Italy’s communications watchdog, regarding Google’s AI Overviews. Similar complaints have been filed in other EU countries, coordinated by the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association, aiming to prompt the European Commission to open an investigation against Google under the EU Digital Services Act. The threat posed by AI Overviews, which provide users with information without them having to click through to the original source by summarising searches with a block of text at the top of the results page, is among the main concerns of European news outlets. FIEG expressed worries about the more recent AI Mode, which takes information from multiple sources and presents them as a chatbot. The federation argues that the Google services “violate fundamental provisions of the digital services act, with detrimental effects on Italian users, consumers and businesses”. FIEG stated, “Google is becoming a traffic killer,” adding that the products not only directly compete with content produced by publishing firms but also “reduce their visibility and discoverability, and thus their advertising revenues”.
- https://www.financialexpress.com/business/brandwagon-rolling-stones-billboard-and-variety-owner-sues-google-over-ai-search-summaries-claims-revenue-loss-3978484/ – Penske Media Corporation (PMC), owner of publications such as Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Variety, has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that its AI-generated summaries use content without consent, leading to reduced traffic and revenue. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., marks the first time a major U.S. publisher has taken legal action against Google over AI summaries. PMC claims that approximately 20% of Google searches linking to its sites now include AI Overviews, a figure expected to increase. The company attributes a decline of more than a third in affiliate revenue by the end of 2024 to this development. The lawsuit argues that Google’s market power, estimated at nearly 90% of the U.S. search market, enables it to impose unfair terms. Without that dominance, PMC contends, the company would have to negotiate licensing deals, as other AI firms have done with publishers like The New York Times and The Atlantic.
- https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/09/47658135/google-sued-by-rolling-stone-billboard-owner-penske-media-over-ai-overviews-feature – Penske Media, owner of Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Variety, has filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google over the use of AI-generated summaries. The lawsuit alleges that Google’s AI Overviews use its journalism without permission, reducing website traffic and affecting revenue. The lawsuit highlights Google’s dominance in the search market, with a near 90% share, as a factor allowing it to impose such terms. Penske noted that about 20% of Google searches linking to its sites now show AI Overviews, a figure expected to rise, leading to a significant drop in affiliate revenue. Google spokesperson José Castañeda defended the AI Overviews, stating they enhance user experience and increase content discovery opportunities. Meanwhile, the News/Media Alliance, representing over 2,200 U.S. publishers, expressed concerns over Google’s market power and its impact on AI licensing deals.
- https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/rolling-stone-billboard-owner-penske-sues-google-over-ai-overviews-11757818147260.html – Penske Media Corporation, the publisher behind major entertainment brands like Rolling Stone, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter, is suing Google over its use of artificial intelligence-generated summaries that appear in search results. The corporation alleges that the summaries reduce user traffic to its websites, damage its business, and undermine the broader ecosystem of journalism. The lawsuit by Penske Media in federal court in Washington, D.C., marks the first time a major US publisher has taken Alphabet-owned Google to court over the AI-generated summaries that now appear on top of its search results. The lawsuit argues that Google’s AI Overviews use its journalism without consent, leading to reduced traffic and revenue. Google has defended the AI Overviews, stating they enhance user experience and increase content discovery opportunities.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The European Commission’s announcement of an antitrust investigation into Google’s use of online content for AI models is a recent development, with reports published on December 9, 2025. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-launches-antitrust-probe-into-googles-use-online-content-ai-purposes-2025-12-09/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from EU competition chief Teresa Ribera in the report are unique to this announcement, with no prior instances found in earlier publications.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The report originates from Reuters, a reputable news organisation known for its accurate and timely reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims made in the report are consistent with ongoing regulatory scrutiny of major technology companies, particularly concerning their use of AI and digital content. The European Commission has previously fined Google €2.95 billion over abusive practices in online advertising technology. ([ppc.land](https://ppc.land/content/files/2025/09/1757088298608.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The report presents a recent and original development regarding the European Commission’s antitrust investigation into Google’s use of online content for AI models. The information is corroborated by reputable sources, and the claims are plausible within the context of ongoing regulatory actions against major technology companies.
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