London, December 09, 2025
The European Union has officially launched an antitrust investigation into Google over its use of online content, including YouTube videos and news publisher materials, to train its artificial intelligence models and generate AI-powered search summaries without fair compensation or opt-out options for creators. The probe aims to assess whether Google’s practices distort competition and unfairly disadvantage content creators and rival AI developers.
Details of the Antitrust Probe
EU regulators are examining if Google imposed unfair terms on YouTube content creators and news publishers whose data fuels its AI services. Central issues include whether Google adequately remunerates these creators and whether it permits them to exclude their content from AI training data or AI-generated search summaries without losing access to Google’s services.
The investigation also probes allegations that Google restricts rival AI developers by limiting their ability to use YouTube content for training competing models. This exclusion could potentially stifle competition and innovation within the AI sector.
Two specific Google features under scrutiny are the AI-generated summaries appearing directly in search results and the “AI Mode,” which provides conversational AI responses. These services rely heavily on content sourced from creators without explicit agreements regarding usage or payment.
Stakeholders and Google’s Response
The probe involves multiple stakeholders: the European regulatory authorities, Google, digital content creators, news publishers, and competing AI technology firms. Teresa Ribera, the EU’s antitrust chief, highlighted concerns about Google’s potential imposition of unfair terms that could hinder rival developers and content owners.
Google has responded by warning that the investigation might hamper innovation in an AI market that is rapidly evolving and becoming more competitive. The company has committed to continuing collaboration with the creative industries as the AI landscape shifts and expands.
Potential Consequences and Broader Context
If Google is found to have violated EU competition laws, it could face fines reaching up to 10% of its global annual revenue. However, the investigation’s opening does not imply any pre-judgment or immediate penalties.
This investigation comes amid broader discussions about how major technology firms incorporate third-party content into AI systems. Google’s own publicly outlined standards emphasize creating helpful, people-first content that is transparent about authorship and use, especially concerning automated or AI-generated materials. The EU’s probe touches on these principles by questioning whether the use of creators’ content respects their rights and the integrity of the competitive market.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to information delivery, this antitrust inquiry may set important precedents regarding data rights, remuneration, and competition safeguards in the digital economy. The outcome could influence how AI companies source and utilize content globally while balancing innovation with fairness for content creators and competitors alike.