Brazil’s antitrust authority moves closer to a formal investigation into Google, scrutinising its use of journalistic material in AI-powered search tools amid concerns over market dominance and content exploitation.
Brazil’s antitrust regulator has moved a step closer to a formal case against Google over the company’s use of journalistic material in artificial intelligence-powered search products, escalating a long-running inquiry into whether the tech giant is exploiting its market power at the expense of news publishers. The Administrative Council for Economic Defence, known as Cade, unanimously approved on Thursday the opening of an administrative proceeding that could lead to fines, sanctions and corrective measures.
According to Cade, the case was reopened because the authority believes the market has changed significantly since the inquiry began in 2019. The council said it wants to examine more closely the competitive conditions in Brazil’s search market and Google’s use of third-party news content in its search and news services, particularly as generative AI has altered how information is gathered and displayed to users.
In its vote, Cade president Diogo Thomson argued there are strong signs that Google may be engaging in exploitative abuse of a dominant position by using scraping techniques to copy journalistic content and generate answers directly in search results. He said that, in practice, users can receive the information without needing to visit the publisher’s own website, which could divert traffic towards Google-owned services such as Google Shopping and Google News.
The case has been building for years. Cade said in August 2025 that it would deepen its investigation and invite submissions from civil society, academics, unions and other interested groups. In November, the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection filed suit over Google’s use of generative AI, arguing that the company’s practices could hurt the sustainability of newsrooms by reducing organic traffic and compensation for content. The latest move comes amid a broader Brazilian debate over how digital platforms should be held accountable for AI-generated and repurposed material, with separate disputes also testing the legal limits of copyright and online responsibility.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on a recent decision by Brazil’s antitrust regulator, CADE, to deepen its investigation into Google’s use of journalistic content, dated April 23, 2026. ([gov.br](https://www.gov.br/cade/en/matters/news/cade2019s-tribunal-recommends-the-opening-of-an-investigation-into-google-regarding-the-use-of-journalistic-content?utm_source=openai)) This development is current and has not been widely reported elsewhere, indicating originality. However, the article references a previous investigation initiated in 2019, suggesting some recycled content. ([gov.br](https://www.gov.br/cade/en/matters/news/cade2019s-tribunal-recommends-the-opening-of-an-investigation-into-google-regarding-the-use-of-journalistic-content?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from CADE’s interim chief, Diogo Thomson de Andrade, regarding the evolution of Google’s conduct and potential exploitative abuse. ([gov.br](https://www.gov.br/cade/en/matters/news/cade2019s-tribunal-recommends-the-opening-of-an-investigation-into-google-regarding-the-use-of-journalistic-content?utm_source=openai)) These quotes appear to be original, as no earlier instances of identical wording were found. However, without access to the original source, full verification is not possible.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The article is sourced from Expresso.pt, a reputable Portuguese news outlet. ([gov.br](https://www.gov.br/cade/en/matters/news/cade2019s-tribunal-recommends-the-opening-of-an-investigation-into-google-regarding-the-use-of-journalistic-content?utm_source=openai)) While Expresso.pt is not as internationally recognized as some other news organizations, it is considered reliable within its region. The article also references official statements from CADE, adding credibility. However, the reliance on a single source for the main content is a limitation.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about CADE’s decision to deepen its investigation into Google’s use of journalistic content are plausible and align with known regulatory actions in other jurisdictions. The article provides specific details, such as the date of the decision and the focus on AI generative features, which are consistent with the context of ongoing global discussions about AI and content usage.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article provides current and plausible information about CADE’s decision to deepen its investigation into Google’s use of journalistic content. However, the reliance on a single source and the inability to fully verify quotes and some details reduce the confidence in the overall assessment. Editors should consider seeking additional independent verification before publication.
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