Politics

EU investigation targets Google’s use of media content for AI training amid creator concerns

Tuesday, 9 December 2025 11:55AM UTC

The European Commission has launched a formal probe into Google’s utilisation of online media and YouTube content for AI development, raising concerns over content creator rights, competitive fairness, and market dominance amidst broader Big Tech regulation efforts.

The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Google’s use of online media and YouTube content to train artificial‑intelligence (AI) models, probing whether the company has used its dominant position to secure privileged access to material without adequate compensation or an opt‑out for creators. According to the original report, Brussels is examining whether Google imposed “unfair conditions and requirements on media outlets and content creators, and excluded competitors from AI development,” conduct that would breach EU competition rules. ^[1]^[2]^[3]

Commissioners are particularly concerned that Google may be using content surfaced by its search engine and videos uploaded to YouTube to power AI features such as AI Overviews and other generative tools, without offering publishers and creators the possibility to refuse or to be fairly remunerated. The inquiry will assess whether such practices distort competition by advantaging Google’s own AI products over rival developers. ^[2]^[3]^[4]

Brussels also flagged the risk that publishers and creators feel unable to push back because of their dependence on Google’s services for distribution and traffic, suggesting a structural imbalance that could limit genuine consent. The Commission’s statement highlighted that some publishers may avoid confronting Google for fear of losing search visibility. ^[1]^[5]

The Commission will examine whether YouTube’s terms force creators, upon upload, to grant Google broad rights to use their content for AI training while preventing rivals from using the same material, an allegation that, if proven, could amount to exclusionary conduct under EU law. Brussels noted it has evidence indicating creators lack effective choice when accepting platform conditions. ^[1]^[4]

Opening an investigation does not prejudge the outcome, but Brussels has a track record of pursuing remedies and fines where it finds non‑compliance. The inquiry could lead to significant penalties or orders to change business practices if breaches are found; regulators have warned that remedies may be required to ensure fair access to the resources needed for AI development. ^[1]^[6]

Google has defended its approach, warning regulators that restrictive measures could harm innovation and saying it will engage with news and creative industries during the AI transition. Industry groups and independent publishers behind recent complaints argue that Google’s prioritisation of its own AI offerings risks undermining a competitive market for generative models. ^[3]^[2]

The probe is part of a broader EU push to rein in Big Tech under competition and digital services rules, coming shortly after separate EU enforcement actions and fines targeting major platforms. Regulators say they will balance the need to foster AI innovation with ensuring fair treatment and adequate compensation for content creators and publishers. ^[6]^[5]

📌 Reference Map:

##Reference Map:

^[1] (ARA) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 5
^[2] (AP) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 6
^[3] (Reuters) - Paragraph 2, Paragraph 6, Paragraph 7
^[4] (The Guardian) - Paragraph 2, Paragraph 4
^[5] (The Guardian) - Paragraph 3, Paragraph 7
^[6] (Reuters) - Paragraph 5, Paragraph 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://en.ara.cat/economy/brussels-is-investigating-google-for-using-media-content-to-train-its-ai_1_5586669.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://apnews.com/article/a0267a57b55849b1855ebe08d0788c45 - The European Union has initiated an antitrust investigation into Google regarding its use of online content for artificial intelligence (AI) models and services. The European Commission is examining whether Google has unfairly utilized content from web publishers and YouTube without proper compensation or consent to develop its AI tools, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. Regulators are also concerned that Google's use of YouTube videos to train its AI may exclude competitors from accessing similar resources, potentially stifling competition. Google has defended its practices, claiming the probe could hinder innovation. The investigation is based on existing EU competition rules and could lead to fines of up to 10% of Google's global revenue if violations are confirmed. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera emphasized that AI innovation must not come at the cost of fair competition and equitable treatment for content creators.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-launches-antitrust-probe-into-googles-use-online-content-ai-purposes-2025-12-09/ - The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation into Google over its use of online publisher content and YouTube videos to train its artificial intelligence models, particularly AI Overviews. This scrutiny comes amid growing concerns over Big Tech's dominance in the emerging AI sector. The European Commission is examining whether Google is exploiting its powerful position as a search engine by using content without fair compensation or an option to opt out, potentially imposing unfair conditions on publishers. YouTube content usage is also under review. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera emphasized the importance of safeguarding publishers' resources to maintain a healthy information ecosystem. Google responded by warning that the complaint risks hindering innovation in an increasingly competitive market and reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with news and creative industries during the AI transition. The probe follows a July complaint by independent publishers and organizations like the Independent Publishers Alliance, Movement for an Open Web, and Foxglove, who allege Google is prioritizing its AI product Gemini over fair search practices. Additionally, Google’s spam policy and its AI advertising practices are under investigation. This is the second EU probe into Google in a month, highlighting rising regulatory tensions, including a parallel EU inquiry into Meta's AI-related actions.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/09/eu-investigation-google-ai-models-gemini - 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. 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.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/13/eu-investigates-google-search-over-demoting-commercial-content-from-news-media - The European Commission has formally launched proceedings to assess whether Google applies fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory conditions of access to publishers' websites on Google Search, an obligation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission's monitoring work has shown indications that Google, based on its 'site reputation abuse policy', is demoting news media and other publishers' websites and content in Google search results when those websites include content from commercial partners. According to Google, this policy aims to tackle practices that are allegedly meant to manipulate ranking in search results. The Commission's investigation focuses specifically on Google's 'site reputation abuse policy' and how that policy applies to publishers. This policy appears to directly impact a common and legitimate way for publishers to monetise their websites and content. Therefore, the Commission is investigating whether Alphabet's demotions of publishers' websites and content in Google Search may impact publishers' freedom to conduct legitimate business, innovate, and cooperate with third-party content providers. The initiation of proceedings does not prejudge a finding of non-compliance. It merely indicates that the Commission will further pursue the case.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-forges-ahead-with-big-tech-crackdown-with-x-fine-defying-trump-2025-12-05/ - The European Union is intensifying its regulatory crackdown on major U.S. tech companies, levying fines and launching new investigations under its Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act. Recently, the EU fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X €120 million for violations of online content rules, following a previous €2.95 billion fine against Google. Despite pushback from the U.S. government—including diplomatic lobbying and threats to link trade measures such as steel tariffs to EU digital policies—the EU is asserting its regulatory sovereignty. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera emphasized that competition law should support open and fair markets and is not negotiable or subject to trade deals. Legal experts note that political pressure from the U.S. appears to be waning in influence, with the EU opening new investigations, including into Meta’s AI features on WhatsApp. A decision regarding Google's proposal to address ad-tech concerns is expected early next year, marking a significant test of EU regulatory resolve.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/09/eu-investigation-google-ai-models-gemini - 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. 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.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is current, with the European Commission's investigation into Google's use of online content for AI models announced on December 9, 2025. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-launches-antitrust-probe-into-googles-use-online-content-ai-purposes-2025-12-09/?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The direct quotes from European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera and Google's response are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found online.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from reputable sources, including the Associated Press and Reuters, which are known for their journalistic integrity and reliability.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims are plausible and align with ongoing regulatory scrutiny of major tech companies. The European Commission has previously fined Google €2.95 billion for antitrust violations in the adtech sector. ([ppc.land](https://ppc.land/content/files/2025/09/1757088298608.pdf?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from reputable outlets. The claims are plausible and supported by recent regulatory actions against Google, indicating a high level of credibility.

EU antitrust
Google
Artificial intelligence