Google Faces EU Antitrust Investigation Over AI Practices
BRUSSELS – Alphabet’s Google is under scrutiny from the EU regarding its use of online content from publishers and YouTube videos to train its artificial intelligence systems.
This marks the European Commission’s second probe into Google within a month, reflecting increasing concerns about Big Tech’s influence in emerging technologies that may hinder competition. Notably, these regulatory actions could strain EU-U.S. relations, particularly given that recent EU laws have become contentious topics with Washington.
Officials are worried that Google may be utilizing publishers’ content for its AI-generated summaries—referred to as AI Overviews—without proper compensation. Furthermore, there are concerns about the way Google handles YouTube videos uploaded by users.
“Google might be misusing its powerful position as a search engine, creating unfair conditions for publishers by leveraging their content for its own AI-driven services,” stated EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera.
She emphasized that a robust information landscape relies on publishers having the means to create quality content, asserting that they won’t allow tech giants to control these decisions.
Google dismissed a complaint from independent publishers back in July, which led to this EU investigation.
A Google representative noted that this complaint could hinder innovation in an increasingly competitive market, highlighting that Europeans should have access to new technologies. They expressed a commitment to collaborating with news and creative sectors as they embrace AI advancements.
Criticism from organizations like the Independent Publishers Alliance and the Movement for an Open Web has emerged, with lawyer Tim Cowen commenting on Google’s practices. “Google has undermined the foundational agreement of the internet, which was to index and present websites fairly to queries. Everyone had a chance,” he explained.
He continued, “Now, with its AI service, Gemini, at the forefront, it exacerbates the situation by using website content to improve Gemini’s capabilities.”
The AI Overviews, which appear above traditional links and are visible in over 100 countries, also began featuring ads in May. Aside from these AI concerns, Google is facing scrutiny regarding its spam policy, following investigations instigated by publishers. If found to be in violation of EU antitrust rules, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
Just last week, the European Commission initiated an investigation into Meta’s plans to prevent AI competitors on its WhatsApp platform, highlighting the growing regulatory oversight on tech companies.
