EU Probes Google Over Use of AI Summaries in Search Results
European regulators have launched a formal investigation into Google’s use of artificial intelligence-generated summaries that appear at the top of search pages, amid concerns the technology may rely on publishers’ content without proper permission or payment.
The European Commission said the inquiry will look at whether Google drew on material from news sites to power these summaries and failed to provide “adequate compensation” to the creators of that work. Officials will also examine how YouTube videos may have been used to help train Google’s broader AI systems, and whether creators were given a meaningful option to exclude their content.
A Google spokesperson criticised the move, warning that the probe “risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever,” while stressing the company would continue working with media organisations as they adapt to emerging AI tools.
The investigation extends to Google’s AI Mode – a conversational-style feature that delivers direct answers alongside links – which sits alongside the company’s traditional search results and mirrors offerings from rivals such as ChatGPT.
Publishers have raised alarms that AI-generated summaries may reduce traffic to their websites, harming advertising revenue. The Daily Mail previously reported that referral traffic from Google had dropped by about 50% since the rollout of the AI Overview feature.
Regulators say they are concerned that both website owners and YouTube creators are not being fairly compensated or given the ability to opt out of having their work used to train Google’s systems. Ed Newton-Rex of advocacy group Fairly Trained said creators face “career suicide” if they avoid publishing online, arguing Google “essentially makes it a condition” that content can be used to develop AI tools that could compete with them.
Campaigners have also urged swift action. Rosa Curling of Foxglove, which filed complaints earlier this year, said news outlets need an immediate mechanism to stop Google from drawing on their reporting, warning that delays could damage the industry.
The broader debate centres on how major tech companies have built generative AI systems capable of creating text, images and video using vast amounts of publicly accessible online content. Artists, writers and media organisations across multiple industries claim these datasets include their work, potentially undermining their rights and incomes.
Commission executive vice-president Teresa Ribera said Europe supports innovation but stressed it cannot come at the expense of “diverse media, open information” and the bloc’s core values.
The EU’s strict digital enforcement regime has already caused tension with US tech firms. Recently, X – owned by Elon Musk – removed the Commission’s account from its advertising platform after regulators issued a €120m penalty related to the site’s verification system.
