EU Investigates Google For AI Summaries, Content Exploitation

The European Union has launched an investigation into Google over its artificial intelligence (AI) summaries that appear above search results.

The European Commission said it will examine whether Google used content from websites to power these AI summaries without offering “appropriate compensation” to publishers.

The probe will also review how YouTube videos may have contributed to training Google’s broader AI systems, and whether content creators were given the option to opt out.

A Google spokesperson described the investigation as a move that “risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever,” adding that “Europeans deserve to benefit from the latest technologies, and we will continue to work closely with the news and creative industries as they transition to the AI era.”

The EU’s investigation will also cover Google’s AI Mode, which delivers conversational-style answers along with links to related web pages. This AI feature operates alongside Google’s existing search platform, offering functionality similar to competitors such as ChatGPT.

Google’s AI Overview summaries have raised concerns that they could reduce traffic to websites. Fewer clicks mean less advertising revenue for publishers. The Daily Mail reported that clicks to its links from Google search results dropped by around 50% after the introduction of AI Overviews.

The Commission expressed concern that web publishers and YouTube creators have not been compensated or allowed to opt out of having their work used to train Google’s AI models.

Ed Newton-Rex of the AI fairness group, Fairly Trained, said it is effectively “career suicide” for creators to withhold their work from online platforms, as Google “makes it a condition” of publishing that it can use their work to develop AI tools that compete with them. He described the EU investigation as timely and critical for creators worldwide.

Rosa Curling, co-executive director of campaign group Foxglove, also welcomed the probe, which her organisation had called for in June. However, she warned that urgent action is needed to protect journalism, stressing the need for an opt-out mechanism for news publishers before the investigation concludes.

At the heart of the EU’s investigation is whether Google has profited from using others’ online content to train its AI tools. Generative AI systems can now produce text, images, and video within seconds in response to simple prompts.

While many companies employ large volumes of online content to train AI, creators are concerned their work may be exploited without recognition or compensation.

“A free and democratic society depends on diverse media, open access to information, and a vibrant creative landscape,” said European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera.

She acknowledged AI’s potential for “remarkable innovation” and benefits for businesses and citizens, but emphasised that growth should not compromise EU values.

The Commission’s enforcement of strict digital rules, which can impose heavy fines on tech companies for violations, has sparked backlash from some US lawmakers.

Earlier this year, Elon Musk’s platform X suspended the Commission’s advertising account after the EU threatened a €120m (£105m) fine over blue verification badges.