Google, EU launches antitrust probe into use of online content for AI

Brussels, Dec. 9 (LaPresse) – The European Commission has launched a formal antitrust investigation to determine whether Google has violated EU competition rules by using content from web publishers and videos uploaded to YouTube to power its artificial intelligence (AI) services without adequately compensating the authors. The investigation will focus on the potential distortion of competition by Google, imposing unfair conditions on publishers and granting itself privileged access to content, thereby disadvantaging competitors in the AI sector. In particular, the EU will examine whether Google uses web publisher content to generate “AI Overviews” and “AI Mode” in search results without the publishers’ permission and without compensation, forcing them to be unable to refuse such use without losing access to Google Search. Furthermore, the use of videos uploaded to YouTube to train generative AI models without any payment to creators and without the option to opt out will also be investigated. The Commission fears that such practices may violate EU monopoly rules, preventing competitors from using YouTube content for their own AI models. If confirmed, Google’s actions could breach European laws against abuse of dominant position. The Commission has launched the investigation as a priority, but the opening of the inquiry does not imply a predetermined outcome.