European Commission Launches Antitrust Probe into Google Over AI Content Usage

The European Commission has officially initiated a formal antitrust investigation targeting the technology behemoth Google. This decision, announced on December 9, 2025, zeroes in on the methods Google employs to integrate content from web publishers and YouTube video creators into its nascent artificial intelligence services, specifically AI Overviews and AI Mode. The regulatory body has voiced significant apprehension regarding the potential misuse of Google's dominant position within the search engine market.

At the core of this scrutiny is an analysis of how Google leverages materials sourced from third-party websites to generate summaries displayed directly within search results via AI Overviews. A key concern is whether content originators are receiving appropriate remuneration for this utilization. Furthermore, the Commission is examining scenarios where publishers, heavily reliant on traffic from Google Search, might feel coerced into consenting to the use of their content for AI training, under the implicit threat of losing platform access. Particular attention is being paid to the use of data harvested from YouTube to train generative models like Gemini, especially given the absence of direct payment for such training within existing contractual agreements with content creators.

This regulatory action builds upon existing enforcement efforts under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This includes a separate case initiated in November 2025 concerning the alleged demotion of content from media publishers in search rankings. Such moves by the EU underscore a determined effort to prevent major digital gatekeepers from monopolizing the digital economy. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager emphasized that advancements in AI must not come at the expense of the foundational principles underpinning European societies.

The media industry has already begun to feel the pinch following the rollout of AI Overviews, which launched in 2024 and saw expansion throughout 2025. Certain organizations have reported steep declines in organic traffic, with some experiencing drops reaching 40% or even 79% for specific content categories. Data suggests that users who view an AI Overview are substantially less likely to click through to the source website. Only 8% of visits result in a click-through to the originating site when the AI has supplied an answer, compared to 15% when no AI summary is present. Moreover, a mere 1% of users navigate to links placed directly within the AI snippet itself. This erosion of traffic, exemplified by Business Insider seeing a 55% decrease in search visits in April compared to April 2022 levels, directly jeopardizes the financial viability of content producers.

The reaction from stakeholders was largely predictable. Groups such as Foxglove and the Coalition for a Open Web applauded the commencement of the investigation. They strongly advocated for the immediate implementation of an opt-out mechanism allowing publishers to control the use of their materials. A spokesperson for Google countered that the inquiry risks stifling innovation in a fiercely competitive market, while affirming the company's willingness to cooperate with creative and media sectors. The Commission's stated goal is to ensure that publishers do not suffer critical revenue losses during what is already a challenging period for the entire industry.