Google Under Antitrust Investigation in Brussels
On Tuesday, the European Commission revealed that Google is facing a fresh antitrust investigation centered on allegations of using copyrighted material to train its artificial intelligence models without fair compensation for publishers.
The EU’s antitrust authorities are concerned that Google leveraged articles and videos from various publishers to develop its “AI Overview” and “AI Mode” search features, bypassing any payments or the option for publishers to opt out.
This probe is particularly focused on how Google handles content from news publishers and creators, as well as video content on YouTube.
“AI is driving significant innovation and providing numerous advantages to users and businesses throughout Europe, yet we cannot allow this advancement to undermine the core principles that underpin our society,” stated EU antitrust chief Teresa Rivera.
This investigation may heighten existing tensions between the EU and the Trump administration, which has criticized ongoing fines imposed on U.S. tech companies by the 27-member bloc.
A spokesperson from Google expressed concerns that the EU’s investigation “risks stifling innovation in a market that’s already competitive.” They emphasized that “Europeans should have access to cutting-edge technology, and we aim to collaborate with news and creative sectors as they enter the AI era.”
In September, the EU had already levied a hefty fine of $3.4 billion against Google for breaching competition rules regarding advertising technology, prompting President Trump to label this move as “discriminatory.”
Recently, President Trump cautioned Europe to “be careful” following a $140 million fine against Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, for purported violations of EU content moderation policies.
At the same time, Google’s AI training practices are also drawing critical scrutiny in the U.S. A group of prominent conservatives, including former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, is urging the administration to dismiss Big Tech’s assertions that their use of copyrighted works falls under the “fair use doctrine.”
In the midst of this, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, rivaling Google in the AI landscape, has rolled out new licensing agreements with major media entities, including CNN and Fox News.
Notably, Fox News is jointly owned by News Corp, the parent company of The Post.
