Google faces EU antitrust investigation over use of online content for AI without compensation

Google hit with EU antitrust investigation over use of online content for AI

The European Commission said it was investigating whether Google had breached EU competition rules by using the content of web publishers, as well as content uploaded on the online video-sharing platform YouTube, for AI purposes. Google was on Tuesday hit with an EU antitrust investigation over its use of online content for AI purposes, marking the latest in a series of crackdowns from the bloc on regulating U.S. big tech companies. The European Commission said it was investigating whether Google had breached EU competition rules by using the content of web publishers, as well as content uploaded on the online video-sharing platform YouTube, for AI purposes. "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 the bloc's commissioner for competition Teresa Ribera. "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."

EU opens investigation into Google's use of online content for AI models

European Commission to assess whether Gemini owner is putting rival companies at a disadvantage The EU has opened an investigation to assess whether Google is breaching European competition rules in its use of online content from web publishers and YouTube for artificial intelligence. The European Commission said on Tuesday it will examine whether the US tech company, which runs the Gemini AI model and is owned by Alphabet, is putting rival AI owners at a "disadvantage". "The investigation will notably examine whether Google is distorting competition by imposing unfair terms and conditions on publishers and content creators, or by granting itself privileged access to such content, thereby placing developers of rival AI models at a disadvantage," the commission said. It said it was concerned that Google may have used content from web publishers to generate AI-powered services on its search results pages without appropriate compensation to publishers and without offering them the possibility to refuse such use of their content. The commission said it was also concerned as to whether Google has used content uploaded to YouTube to train its own generative AI models without offering creators compensation or the possibility to refuse. "Content creators uploading videos on YouTube have an obligation to grant Google permission to use their data for different purposes, including for training generative AI models," the commission said. Google does not pay YouTube content creators for their content, nor does it allow them to upload their content on YouTube without allowing Google to use such data, it said. The commission noted that rival developers of AI models are barred by YouTube policies from using YouTube content to train their own AI models. Last month, the head of Google's parent company has said people should not "blindly trust" everything AI tools tell them. Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Alphabet, said AI models were "prone to errors" and urged people to use them alongside other tools. In the same interview, Pichai warned that no company would be immune if the AI bubble burst.

EU launches antitrust probe into Google's data use for AI

Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) - The EU announced Tuesday it had opened a probe to assess whether Google breached antitrust rules by using content put online by media and other publishers to train and provide AI services without appropriate compensation. The European Commission said the investigation would look into concerns that the US tech giant might be distorting competition by imposing unfair terms and conditions on publishers and content creators, or by granting itself privileged access to their output. "A free and democratic society depends on diverse media, open access to information, and a vibrant creative landscape," the European Union's competition chief, Teresa Ribera, said. "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". The commission, the European Union's antitrust regulator, said the probe would focus on two issues. It would look into whether Google used YouTube videos to train its generative AI models without adequately paying the creators who post the clips online -- and without offering them the possibility to refuse such use of their content. "Google does not remunerate YouTube content creators for their content, nor does (it) allow them to upload their content on YouTube without allowing Google to use such data," the commission said. "At the same time, rival developers of AI models are barred by YouTube policies from using YouTube content to train their own AI models." The probe would also check whether the firm used online content from other sites, such as newspaper websites, to provide generative AI-powered services, again with no compensation or possibility to opt-out. This relates in particular to Google's AI-generated summaries that pop-up in response to a user's search query and to the firm's "AI Mode" -- a search tab similar to a chatbot which answers users' questions, the commission said. "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," Ribera said. There is no deadline for the commission to complete its investigation and the opening of a probe does not prejudge its outcome. The company, however, risks a hefty fine.

EU Commission opens probe into Google over AI despite tensions with US

The EU antitrust enforcer on Tuesday opened an investigation into the US tech giant over its use of online content to power its AI services, a move that threatens to ratchet up transatlantic relations. The European Commission on Tuesday launched a probe into Google over its use of web publishers' content and YouTube material for its AI services. The decision comes after transatlantic tensions escalated over the weekend after Brussels imposed a €120 million fine on Elon Musk's social network X for breaching its landmark Digital Services Act (DSA), prompting a political response from the world's richest man calling for the EU to be abolished. "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," EU competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera said in a statement. "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," Ribera added. The EU investigation will examine whether Google used web publishers' content to provide generative-AI services on its search results pages without appropriate compensation and without giving them the option to refuse. Many publishers depend on Google Search for user traffic. It will also assess whether videos uploaded on YouTube were used to train Google's generative AI models without proper compensation to creators and without giving them any choice. The Commission's probe is based on EU rules designed to prohibit abuses of dominant market position. However, the opening of a probe following a fine on X might trigger Washington's ire, which has positioned itself on the side of Big American Tech. Since Trump's return to power in 2025, the EU and the US have been at loggerheads over the bloc's enforcement of digital rules. The Trump administration accuses the EU of targeting only US companies, while the EU says its legislation is non-discriminatory and reflects its sovereign right to enforce its own digital-market rules. Euronews has reached out to Google for comment.

EU launches antitrust probe into Google's use of online content for AI purposes

The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into whether Google is misusing online content from publishers and YouTube for its AI tools. Officials worry Google may be taking material without fair payment or giving creators a chance to opt out. The probe will also examine whether this behaviour harms rival AI developers. The European Commission has opened an antitrust probe to assess whether Google is breaching EU competition rules in its use of online content from web publishers and Youtube for artificial intelligence purposes, it said on Tuesday. "The investigation will notably examine whether Google is distorting competition by imposing unfair terms and conditions on publishers and content creators, or by granting itself privileged access to such content, thereby placing developers of rival AI models at a disadvantage," the Commission said. It said it was concerned Google may have used content from web publishers to generate AI-powered services on its search results pages without appropriate compensation to publishers and without offering them the possibility to refuse such use of their content. The Commision said it is also concerned whether Google has used content uploaded to Youtube to train its own generate AI models without offering creators compensation or the possibility to refuse.

Google faces EU antitrust probe over alleged use of online content for AI purposes

The European Commission opened an antitrust investigation to assess if Alphabet's (GOOG) (GOOGL) Google has breached EU competition rules by using the content of web publishers and content uploaded on YouTube for AI purposes. The EU antitrust regulator said that The investigation could lead to restrictions on how Google sources and uses publisher and YouTube content for AI model development, potentially changing its AI services and compensation requirements. Yes, the EU alleges that Google's policies prevent rival AI developers from using YouTube content while giving itself privileged access, possibly distorting competition. EU regulators are concerned that Google may be using publisher and creator content for AI services without adequate compensation or consent, harming creators and competition.

Google faces EU antitrust probe over AI practices By Investing.com

Investing.com -- The European Union launched an antitrust investigation into Alphabet\'s Google, focusing on potential competition issues related to the company\'s artificial-intelligence practices. On Tuesday, the European Commission announced it is examining whether Google is distorting competition through unfair terms and conditions imposed on publishers and content creators. The investigation will also look into allegations that Google gives itself privileged access to content, potentially creating an unfair advantage for its AI tools over competitors. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

EU Probes Google Over Use of Online Content to Power AI -- 2nd Update

The European Union opened an antitrust investigation into Alphabet's Google, citing concerns about how it uses uploaded content on platforms such as YouTube to power and train its artificial-intelligence tools. The European Commission said Tuesday that it is looking into whether Google is distorting competition by imposing unfair terms and conditions on publishers or by giving itself privileged access to their content. The EU's executive arm said such practices could put Google's own AI tools at an advantage over competitors. The watchdog said it is concerned that Google might have unfairly used publishers' content to provide AI-powered services such as its AI Overviews and used content uploaded to its YouTube video streaming platform to train its own generative AI models. The commission received a legal complaint earlier this year from publishers over Google's AI Overview tool, which alleged that the company was unfairly directing traffic away from news websites. A Google spokesperson said Tuesday that the complaint risked stifling innovation. "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 spokesperson said. The probe comes as Google gains ground in the AI race. The search giant released the latest version of its Gemini AI chat service last month, sending its stock soaring and prompting OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman to declare in a company memo a "code red" effort to improve ChatGPT. The EU's competition enforcer has recently intensified its scrutiny of how Big Tech companies are bringing AI into their services. The commission on Thursday opened an investigation into how Meta Platforms is weaving its own AI bot into messaging service WhatsApp and moving to prevent competing AI providers from operating on the platform. "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," Teresa Ribera, the bloc's competition commissioner, said in a statement Tuesday. The new probe also comes less than a month after the commission--the bloc's competition regulator tasked with policing the world's most powerful companies--began investigating Google over how the tech giant ranks news publishers in search results. Companies face fines of up to 10% of their annual worldwide turnover if the commission decides they are breaching EU antitrust law.

EU Probes Google Over Use of Online Content to Power AI -- Update

The European Union opened an antitrust investigation into Alphabet's Google, citing concerns about how the search giant uses uploaded content on platforms such as YouTube to power and train its artificial-intelligence tools. The European Commission said Tuesday that it is looking into whether Google is distorting competition by imposing unfair terms and conditions on publishers or by giving itself privileged access to their content. The EU's executive arm said such practices could put Google's own AI tools at an advantage over competitors. The watchdog said it is concerned that Google might have unfairly used publishers' content to provide AI-powered services such as its AI Overviews and used content uploaded to its YouTube video streaming platform to train its own generative AI models. Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. "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," Teresa Ribera, the bloc's competition commissioner, said in a statement Tuesday. The new probe comes less than a month after the commission--the bloc's competition regulator tasked with policing the world's most powerful companies--began investigating Google over how the tech giant ranks news publishers in search results. The competition regulator has also intensified its scrutiny of how Big Tech companies are bringing AI into their services. The commission on Thursday opened an investigation into Meta Platforms over how the company is weaving its own AI bot into messaging service WhatsApp and how that affects the ability of competing AI providers to operate on the platform.

EU launches antitrust probe into Google's use of online content for AI purposes

BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The European Commission has opened an antitrust probe to assess whether Google is breaching EU competition rules in its use of online content from web publishers and Youtube for artificial intelligence purposes, it said on Tuesday. "The investigation will notably examine whether Google is distorting competition by imposing unfair terms and conditions on publishers and content creators, or by granting itself privileged access to such content, thereby placing developers of rival AI models at a disadvantage," the Commission said. It said it was concerned Google may have used content from web publishers to generate AI-powered services on its search results pages without appropriate compensation to publishers and without offering them the possibility to refuse such use of their content. The Commision said it is also concerned whether Google has used content uploaded to Youtube to train its own generate AI models without offering creators compensation or the possibility to refuse. (Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout)