EU Investigates Google for Antitrust Violations in AI Content Use

The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation to determine if Google violates EU competition rules by using online content from web publishers and YouTube for AI purposes. The probe will examine whether Google imposes unfair conditions on content creators or gives itself preferential access.

The European Commission initiated an antitrust investigation to determine if Google's use of online content from web publishers and YouTube breaches EU competition rules, the body announced on Tuesday.

The probe specifically questions whether Google distorts competition by imposing unfair terms on publishers and creators or grants itself favorable access to content, thus disadvantaging developers of rival AI models.

Concerns have been raised about Google using content from web publishers and YouTube to develop AI services, potentially without providing appropriate compensation to the creators or offering them the choice to deny such usage.