Software EU launches investigation against Google on AI content
The EU suspects the US internet giant Google of illegally feeding its artificial intelligence with third-party online content. The European Commission is therefore launching an investigation into possible breaches of competition law.
09.12.2025, 09:19
09.12.2025, 09:38
SDA
Specifically, the authority is also accusing the tech giant of using third-party content without appropriate compensation in order to offer results for search queries. It is investigating whether Google may have imposed unfair conditions on publishers and content creators and at the same time disadvantaged competing developers of AI models, Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera announced on Tuesday.
The Spaniard said: "A free and democratic society depends on diverse media, open access to information and a vibrant creative landscape." AI is bringing remarkable innovation and many benefits to people and businesses across Europe, but this progress must not come at the expense of the principles at the heart of European societies.
Do Google search results use third-party content without authorization?
People searching on Google now also see AI-generated results. This involves both summarized answers to search queries and Google's AI mode, which was launched in Germany just a few weeks ago. The latter answers users' queries in the conversational style of a chatbot.
There are also concerns about the handling of content on Google's video platform YouTube. Creators must give Google permission to use their videos for various purposes, including for training generative AI models. However, they do not receive any remuneration for this. At the same time, YouTube prohibits Google's competitors from using platform content to train their own AI systems - a potential advantage for Google's own AI developments.
The EU Commission is investigating whether Google could have exploited a dominant market position through these practices. The initiation of proceedings does not yet constitute proof of an infringement, emphasized the Brussels authority. It monitors compliance with competition law in the EU. It remains to be seen how long the proceedings will take.
Other proceedings are also underway against Google for possible breaches of competition law, such as possible discrimination against media and publishers. Such proceedings carry the threat of high fines.
