European Commission regulators have launched a formal antitrust investigation into Google’s use of online publisher content and YouTube videos, scrutinising whether the company has exploited its dominance to gain an unfair competitive advantage in artificial-intelligence (AI) services.
The probe, announced on Tuesday, centres on two main concerns. First, whether Google has used web-publisher content without adequate compensation , or without giving publishers the option to opt out to power AI-driven features such as AI Overviews and “AI Mode” on its search platform.
Second, the investigation will examine whether YouTube creators’ videos were used to train generative AI models without permission, consent, or payment, while other AI developers are blocked from accessing the same data potentially giving Google an unfair edge.
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The European Commission’s competition chief, Teresa Ribera, said the probe reflects deep concern over whether Google is “imposing unfair trading conditions on publishers and content creators” and undermining competition in the emerging AI industry.
If regulators find Google in breach of EU competition rules, the company could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
In response, Google argued that its AI features create new opportunities for content discovery and prevent stagnation in innovation, adding that it will continue to collaborate with news publishers and creative industries as the “AI era” evolves.
The case marks the latest in a series of regulatory challenges to major Big Tech firms in Europe, as authorities seek to ensure that dominance in traditional online services does not translate into unfair advantage in next-generation AI platforms.
