The European Commission has opened an investigation into Google over its use of online content to power artificial intelligence services. The antitrust probe, announced in a 2025 Commission statement, focuses on practices affecting publishers and creators across the European Union.
EU Probe Into Google's Use of Online Content
The investigation examines whether Google breached EU competition rules that prohibit abuse of a dominant market position. Regulators are assessing how Google uses web content in AI Overviews and AI Mode in Search, and whether publishers can realistically refuse such use without risking loss of search traffic.
- The Commission will investigate whether AI Overviews and AI Mode rely on publishers' content without appropriate compensation.
- It will examine whether publishers can refuse such use while still retaining meaningful access to Google Search traffic.
- The Commission notes that many publishers depend heavily on Google Search for visitors.
- Investigators are evaluating whether these conditions limit publishers' ability to negotiate terms for the use of their content.
The investigation also covers Google's use of YouTube videos and other creator content to train generative AI models. According to the Commission, YouTube creators must grant Google permission to use their content and data for several purposes, including AI training, as a condition of uploading to the platform. Creators cannot upload content while withholding that permission.
The announcement further states that Google does not pay creators specifically for the use of their content in AI training. At the same time, YouTube policies restrict rival AI developers from training models on YouTube content. The Commission will examine whether these conditions give Google preferential access to YouTube content over competing AI developers.
Background on EU Competition Rules and Google
EU competition rules, including Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, prohibit abuse of a dominant market position. The European Commission enforces these rules against companies that hold strong market positions in the EU's internal market. Previous cases have included investigations into search, shopping, and mobile operating system practices involving Google.
The new investigation extends EU scrutiny to how online content and data are used in generative AI services. It follows broader EU initiatives, such as the Digital Markets Act and the AI Act, which target the conduct of large digital platforms. According to the Commission announcement, Google has been formally notified that the antitrust investigation is underway.
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