The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into Google’s use of online publisher content for AI development, signalling a tougher stance on Big Tech’s role in shaping artificial intelligence in Europe.
The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Google over its use of online publisher content and YouTube material to train and power artificial intelligence features, intensifying a broader EU push to police Big Tech’s expansion into AI. According to the original report, the probe will examine whether Google “may have imposed unfair terms and conditions on publishers and content creators, while placing rival AI models developers at a disadvantage, in breach of EU competition rules,” a warning voiced by Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s executive vice‑president for Competitive Transition. [1][3]
Brussels is targeting specific Google products that use generative capabilities , including features known as AI Overviews and AI Mode , which the Commission says summarise and repurpose third‑party content in search results without offering adequate compensation or clear opt‑out choices to publishers and creators. Industry complaints, filed in July by independent publishers and groups such as the Independent Publishers Alliance, Movement for an Open Web and Foxglove, allege Google has privileged its Gemini AI and related services at the expense of fair search practices and rival AI developers. The Commission will assess whether such practices amount to exclusionary conduct under EU competition law. [2][3]
Google has pushed back, arguing the probe risks chilling innovation in a rapidly evolving market and emphasising its willingness to engage with news and creative sectors as the AI transition unfolds. The company said in a statement it will cooperate with the inquiry while defending the competitive dynamics of search and AI development. EU officials, however, stress their focus is on protecting competition and consumer choice rather than foreclosing technological progress. [2][3]
If the Commission finds infringements, Google could face significant sanctions under EU rules , fines can reach up to 10% of a company’s global turnover for certain competition breaches , and the investigation may require remedies to ensure fair access to content and to prevent exclusionary tying of services. Government figures and industry data cited in the filings underline concerns that unremunerated use of journalistic and creator output risks undermining the economics that sustain independent media and online creators. [2][5]
The probe appears in the context of a stepped‑up EU regulatory offensive against US tech platforms. In recent weeks Brussels fined X €120 million for Digital Services Act breaches and has already levied multibillion‑euro penalties against Google in related adtech cases, while opening a separate antitrust inquiry into Meta’s planned WhatsApp AI policy that may limit rival AI access. EU competition officials, led publicly by Ms Ribera, have framed the actions as asserting regulatory sovereignty despite diplomatic friction with Washington over digital rules. Legal experts say the sequence of investigations and fines marks a more assertive European posture toward platform power in AI. [6][7][4]
Publishers’ representatives, including the European Publishers Council, have welcomed the Commission’s move, arguing that features which extract and repackage journalism into summaries or chatbot answers should not be treated as a free input to large AI models without compensation or effective opt‑outs. Critics of heavy‑handed regulation, by contrast, warn that stringent restrictions could entrench incumbents or slow deployment of consumer‑facing AI services; the Commission’s inquiry will need to weigh those competing effects. [5][2]
The investigation adds to a fast‑moving regulatory landscape that will shape how online content is monetised and how AI systems are built and deployed in Europe. The Commission has not set a public timetable for concluding the probe; any formal decision could take months and may be appealed to EU courts, potentially becoming a test case for how competition law applies to data‑intensive AI ecosystems. [1][3][6]
##Reference Map:
- [1] (EUnews) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 8
- [2] (AP) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 6
- [3] (Reuters) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 8
- [4] (Cadena SER) – Paragraph 6
- [5] (El País) – Paragraph 4, Paragraph 6
- [6] (Reuters) – Paragraph 6, Paragraph 8
- [7] (Reuters) – Paragraph 6
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:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the European Commission’s investigation into Google’s use of online content for AI purposes announced on 9 December 2025. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/09/eu-investigation-google-ai-models-gemini?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
Direct quotes from EU competition chief Teresa Ribera and a Google spokesperson are present. No earlier instances of these specific quotes were found, suggesting originality.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable sources, including The Guardian and Reuters, enhancing its credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims align with recent EU regulatory actions against major tech companies, such as fines against X (formerly Twitter) and investigations into Meta’s AI policies. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/europe-forges-ahead-with-big-tech-crackdown-with-x-fine-defying-trump-2025-12-05/?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes are original, and the sources are reputable. The claims are plausible and consistent with recent EU regulatory actions, indicating a high level of credibility.
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