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EU Opens Antitrust Probe Into Google’s AI Use of Publisher and YouTube Content

Regulators will assess alleged unfair terms, compensation gaps, and opt-out limits that may disadvantage rival AI developers.

Overview

  • The European Commission is investigating whether AI Overviews and AI Mode repurpose publishers’ content without payment or a meaningful ability to refuse.
  • Officials will examine Google’s use of YouTube uploads for training generative models while YouTube policies block rival AI developers from similar access.
  • Independent publishers and advocacy groups, including Movement for an Open Web, Foxglove, and the Independent Publishers’ Alliance, lodged complaints that helped trigger the case.
  • Google rejects the claims, saying the action risks stifling innovation, and says it will continue working with news and creative industries through the AI transition.
  • The probe has no deadline under EU competition rules and could result in remedies or fines of up to 10% of Alphabet’s global revenue if violations are found.