Politics

EU launches antitrust probe into Google over AI content training practices

Tuesday, 9 December 2025 5:11PM UTC

The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into Google’s use of online publisher content for AI development, signalling a tougher stance on Big Tech’s role in shaping artificial intelligence in Europe.

The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Google over its use of online publisher content and YouTube material to train and power artificial intelligence features, intensifying a broader EU push to police Big Tech’s expansion into AI. According to the original report, the probe will examine whether Google “may have imposed unfair terms and conditions on publishers and content creators, while placing rival AI models developers at a disadvantage, in breach of EU competition rules,” a warning voiced by Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s executive vice‑president for Competitive Transition. ^[1]^[3]

Brussels is targeting specific Google products that use generative capabilities , including features known as AI Overviews and AI Mode , which the Commission says summarise and repurpose third‑party content in search results without offering adequate compensation or clear opt‑out choices to publishers and creators. Industry complaints, filed in July by independent publishers and groups such as the Independent Publishers Alliance, Movement for an Open Web and Foxglove, allege Google has privileged its Gemini AI and related services at the expense of fair search practices and rival AI developers. The Commission will assess whether such practices amount to exclusionary conduct under EU competition law. ^[2]^[3]

Google has pushed back, arguing the probe risks chilling innovation in a rapidly evolving market and emphasising its willingness to engage with news and creative sectors as the AI transition unfolds. The company said in a statement it will cooperate with the inquiry while defending the competitive dynamics of search and AI development. EU officials, however, stress their focus is on protecting competition and consumer choice rather than foreclosing technological progress. ^[2]^[3]

If the Commission finds infringements, Google could face significant sanctions under EU rules , fines can reach up to 10% of a company’s global turnover for certain competition breaches , and the investigation may require remedies to ensure fair access to content and to prevent exclusionary tying of services. Government figures and industry data cited in the filings underline concerns that unremunerated use of journalistic and creator output risks undermining the economics that sustain independent media and online creators. ^[2]^[5]

The probe appears in the context of a stepped‑up EU regulatory offensive against US tech platforms. In recent weeks Brussels fined X €120 million for Digital Services Act breaches and has already levied multibillion‑euro penalties against Google in related adtech cases, while opening a separate antitrust inquiry into Meta’s planned WhatsApp AI policy that may limit rival AI access. EU competition officials, led publicly by Ms Ribera, have framed the actions as asserting regulatory sovereignty despite diplomatic friction with Washington over digital rules. Legal experts say the sequence of investigations and fines marks a more assertive European posture toward platform power in AI. ^[6]^[7]^[4]

Publishers’ representatives, including the European Publishers Council, have welcomed the Commission’s move, arguing that features which extract and repackage journalism into summaries or chatbot answers should not be treated as a free input to large AI models without compensation or effective opt‑outs. Critics of heavy‑handed regulation, by contrast, warn that stringent restrictions could entrench incumbents or slow deployment of consumer‑facing AI services; the Commission’s inquiry will need to weigh those competing effects. ^[5]^[2]

The investigation adds to a fast‑moving regulatory landscape that will shape how online content is monetised and how AI systems are built and deployed in Europe. The Commission has not set a public timetable for concluding the probe; any formal decision could take months and may be appealed to EU courts, potentially becoming a test case for how competition law applies to data‑intensive AI ecosystems. ^[1]^[3]^[6]

##Reference Map:

^[1] (EUnews) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 8
^[2] (AP) - Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 6
^[3] (Reuters) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 8
^[4] (Cadena SER) - Paragraph 6
^[5] (El País) - Paragraph 4, Paragraph 6
^[6] (Reuters) - Paragraph 6, Paragraph 8
^[7] (Reuters) - Paragraph 6

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/12/09/eu-opens-another-probe-into-google-this-time-over-use-of-online-content-for-ai-purposes/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://apnews.com/article/a0267a57b55849b1855ebe08d0788c45 - The European Union has initiated an antitrust investigation into Google, focusing on the company's use of online content to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models and services. The European Commission is examining whether Google has disadvantaged competitors and violated competition laws by using content from web publishers and YouTube videos without proper compensation or opt-out mechanisms. The inquiry targets features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, which use AI to summarise information and provide answers in search results. Concerns also include Google's potential exclusion of rival AI developers by restricting access to key content. Google argues that the investigation could hinder innovation in a competitive market, while EU officials emphasise that their actions are solely focused on potential harm to competition and consumers. This probe follows recent actions against other tech platforms, including fines against X (formerly Twitter) and an inquiry into WhatsApp’s AI practices. The case could lead to significant penalties, including fines of up to 10% of Google’s global revenue.
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 emphasised 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 organisations like the Independent Publishers Alliance, Movement for an Open Web, and Foxglove, who allege Google is prioritising 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://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/12/09/la-comision-europea-abre-una-investigacion-a-google-por-usar-contenidos-online-para-entrenar-la-ia-cadena-ser/ - The European Commission has initiated an investigation against Google for the alleged unauthorised use of online content—from both media outlets and YouTube creators—to train its artificial intelligence systems. European authorities suspect that the company has neither compensated nor consulted the authors of these materials, potentially violating community regulations. According to the Commission, Google may have gained an undue competitive advantage by accessing this content, thereby harming other AI model developers. This investigation occurs within a context of tensions between the EU and the US over technological regulations and follows a previous €3 billion fine imposed on Google in September for abusing its dominant position in the online advertising market.
https://elpais.com/economia/2025-12-09/bruselas-investiga-a-google-ante-la-sospecha-de-que-quiebra-las-leyes-del-mercado-con-la-ia.html - The European Commission has initiated an investigation against Google for potential anticompetitive practices related to the use of content from media outlets and creators to train its artificial intelligence without authorisation or adequate compensation. Brussels suspects that Google imposes unfair conditions on publishers and creators by obliging them to provide content without a real option to refuse, as they depend on the traffic generated by the search engine. Additionally, the use of YouTube videos in generative AI models under restrictive conditions for creators and competitors is under scrutiny. This is the second investigation in a week into a US tech company, following another against Meta. Despite criticism from the US government, the Commission, led by Teresa Ribera in Competition, continues its course. Google has previously faced other multimillion-dollar sanctions in Europe. The European Publishers Council has supported the investigation, denouncing the lack of compensation for the use of journalistic content in functions like summaries or chatbots. The controversy reflects the growing conflict between technological innovation and the rights of content creators within the European regulatory framework.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/europe-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 emphasised 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.reuters.com/world/metas-whatsapp-ai-policy-eu-antitrust-crosshairs-2025-12-04/ - The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms over a new policy that may restrict rival AI providers from accessing WhatsApp. Set to take effect in January, the policy could prevent competing AI services from reaching users through the platform, giving Meta’s own AI, Meta AI, a competitive advantage. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera emphasised the need to safeguard fair competition and ensure that European consumers and businesses benefit from the AI revolution. The investigation aims to determine whether Meta's policy violates EU competition rules and whether immediate action is necessary to prevent potential harm to innovation and competition in the AI sector.

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 purposes announced on 9 December 2025. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/09/eu-investigation-google-ai-models-gemini?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: Direct quotes from EU competition chief Teresa Ribera and a Google spokesperson are present. No earlier instances of these specific quotes were found, suggesting originality.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from reputable sources, including The Guardian and Reuters, enhancing its credibility.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims align with recent EU regulatory actions against major tech companies, such as fines against X (formerly Twitter) and investigations into Meta's AI policies. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/europe-forges-ahead-with-big-tech-crackdown-with-x-fine-defying-trump-2025-12-05/?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes are original, and the sources are reputable. The claims are plausible and consistent with recent EU regulatory actions, indicating a high level of credibility.

EU
Google
AI regulation