"Improper Use of AI Data"... EU Launches Antitrust Investigation into Google

"Using Publisher Content in 'AI Overview' Without Appropriate Compensation"
Investigation to Examine Unfair Terms Imposed on Content Creators

Google is facing a European Union (EU) antitrust investigation over allegations that it used online content from media and publishers, as well as YouTube videos, to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models without providing appropriate compensation.

The European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, announced on December 9 (local time) that it will examine concerns that Google imposed unfair terms on publishers and content creators, or distorted competition by granting itself privileged access to content produced by these parties.

The Commission pointed out that Google may have abused its dominant position as a search engine by using online content from media and publishers without sufficient compensation to provide its AI-generated summary service, 'AI Overview,' thereby imposing unfair trading conditions.

It also stated that it would investigate whether Google failed to pay appropriate compensation to YouTube content creators, or used YouTube videos to train its AI models without offering creators the option to refuse such use.

EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera commented, "Google may be using publishers' online content in its AI-generated summaries, 'AI Overview,' without providing appropriate compensation or an option to refuse." She added, "A healthy information ecosystem depends on publishers being able to produce quality content. We will not allow gatekeepers to dictate those choices."

If Google is found to have violated the EU's antitrust regulations, it could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.

Google immediately pushed back against the EU's investigation. A Google spokesperson stated, "Such measures risk stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever," adding, "Europeans deserve access to the latest technology, and we will continue to work closely with the media and creative industries as they transition into the AI era."

The EU has recently been targeting major U.S. tech companies, launching antitrust investigations against firms such as Meta for allegedly blocking other companies' AI chatbots on its WhatsApp messenger, despite warnings from the Donald Trump administration.