A group of independent publishers has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, accusing Google of abusing its dominant position in search by using their content for its AI Overviews feature without allowing an opt-out option.
The group warned that Google’s continued use of the content would cause serious and irreversible harm to publishers’ traffic and revenue, and sought a temporary restraining order. Similar lawsuits are also being filed in the UK and the US over the impact of AI on journalism.
MAIN CONTENT
Google accused of misusing publisher content to serve AI Overviews without opt-out option.
Publishers accuse Google's AI feature of reducing traffic, greatly affecting revenue and readers.
The legal battle is expanding globally, with organizations calling for tighter controls to protect independent journalism.
How does Google's alleged use of AI Overviews affect publishers?
The CEO of the Independent Publishers Association (IPA) asserts that Google's exploitation of web content for AI Overviews causes a loss of traffic, readers and revenue, pushes original articles down the page and reduces direct access for users.
Starting in May 2023, Google will begin displaying AI-generated summaries at the top of search results in more than 100 countries, along with ads. Publishers say these summaries are driving fewer visits to the main page, negatively impacting journalism quality and revenue.
Google’s core search engine service is misusing web content for Google’s AI Overviews in Google Search, which have caused, and continue to cause, significant harm to publishers, including news publishers in the form of traffic, readership and revenue loss.
– Publishers' Complaints Profile, 2025
The IPA also makes clear that publishers cannot prevent Google from collecting data to create AI Overviews without losing the right to appear in regular search results, creating a dilemma.
Which organizations and lawyers are supporting publishers in suing Google?
Groups including the Independent Publishers Association, the Movement for an Open Web, and the UK-based nonprofit Foxglove have joined forces to send a joint complaint to regulators in Brussels and London, calling for urgent restrictions to protect independent journalism from the negative effects of AI Overviews.
Rosa Curling, co-director of Foxglove, stressed the urgency of giving journalists and publishers the right to opt out of having their content used for AI tasks by Google.
That’s why with this complaint, Foxglove and our partners are urging the European Commission, along with other regulators around the world, to take a stand and allow independent journalism to opt out.
– Rosa Curling, Co-Director of Foxglove, 2025
How does Google respond to the above allegations?
A Google spokesperson said that AI Overviews drives billions of visits to websites every day, helping users access more content and business opportunities. Google also dismissed the traffic decline, saying that the data provided by publishers is selective, and that traffic fluctuates due to factors such as seasonality, user trends, and algorithm updates.
“New AI experiences in Search enable people to ask more questions, opening up opportunities to discover new content and businesses,” a Google spokesperson said.
What are the risks and future of the relationship between AI and independent journalism?
The legal battle highlights the growing tension between AI advances and the survival of traditional independent journalism. Publishers fear that AI Overviews could undermine content licensing revenue streams and threaten the diversity and quality of information.
Meanwhile, Google and other AI companies are working to integrate the technology to improve the user experience of searching. The upcoming legal outcome could reshape how AI is used and recognizes journalistic content, affecting the entire global media industry.
Real-life examples of publisher impact
A US education technology company has similarly sued Google, accusing AI Overviews of causing a decline in their visitors and subscriptions. The situation illustrates the pressure content creators are facing as AI advances in information search.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Google's AI Overviews? They are automated, AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results to provide users with quick information. Why are publishers objecting to Google's use of their content? They claim that AI Overviews reduce direct traffic, affecting the revenue and readership of original articles. Can publishers stop Google from using their content? Currently, if they block Google from crawling their data, they also lose the right to appear in search results, so there is no separate opt-out option for AI Overviews. What does Google say about these allegations? Google argues that AI Overviews increase website traffic and create opportunities for publishers, while dismissing data about traffic reductions as incomplete. How could the legal ruling affect the journalism industry? The ruling will determine the control and use of AI-powered content, directly affecting the future of business and the existence of independent journalism.
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