Regulators are examining whether the company used publisher and YouTube content to train generative AI tools without fair terms.
The European Commission launched a formal antitrust investigation into Google over concerns that the tech giant may be misusing online content to power its artificial-intelligence (AI) services.
The investigation will examine whether Google has violated EU competition rules by using content from web publishers and its own video platform, YouTube, to train generative AI tools without fairly compensating content creators or offering them the right to opt out.
Under scrutiny is whether Google imposed unfair terms on publishers and content creators, granting itself privileged access to a vast pool of material while simultaneously preventing rival AI developers from using the same sources. Critics argue that this could give Google an unfair edge in the competitive AI market.
According to the Commission’s statement, Google’s AI Overviews generates summaries that appear above traditional search results, and AI Mode offers a chatbot-style interface — both built using online content. Some publishers report feeling pressured, as refusing to allow their content to be used could mean sacrificing visibility in Google Search, which many rely on for traffic.
The EU is also investigating whether video content uploaded to YouTube was used to train Google’s AI models without appropriate remuneration. At the same time, YouTube’s policies reportedly bar non-Google developers from using those same videos for training.
If the investigation finds that Google violated EU competition law, the company could face serious consequences. Under EU rules, fines can reach up to 10% of a firm’s global annual revenue, potentially amounting to billions of dollars.
In response, Google said the probe is “misguided,” arguing that its AI services operate in a highly competitive market and asserting its commitment to working with news and creative industries during the transition to AI use.
This latest investigation follows a wave of regulatory scrutiny of major U.S.-based tech firms by European authorities, highlighting mounting tension between rapid advances in generative AI and the protection of content creators and fair competition.
