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The
European Commission, which is the 27-nation bloc's top antitrust
enforcer, said it's examining whether Google has breached
competition rules through its use of content from web publishers
as well as material uploaded to YouTube for AI purposes.
Regulators are concerned that Google has given itself an unfair
advantage by using content for two search services, AI Overviews
and AI Mode, without paying publishers or letting them opt out.
AI Overviews automatically generates summaries that appear at
the top of its traditional search results, while AI Mode
provides chatbot-style answers to search queries.
They're also examining whether Google uses videos uploaded to
YouTube under similar conditions to train its generative AI
models, while shutting out rival AI model developers.
“This complaint risks stifling innovation in a market that is
more competitive than ever," Google said in statement.
“Europeans deserve to benefit from the latest technologies and
we will continue to work closely with the news and creative
industries as they transition to the AI era.”
The Commission, which is the bloc's executive arm, is carrying
out the investigation under the EU's longstanding competition
regulations, rather than its newer Digital Markets Act that was
was drawn up to prevent Big Tech companies from monopolizing
online markets.
"AI is bringing remarkable innovation and many benefits for
people and businesses across Europe, but this progress cannot
come at the expense of the principles at the heart of our
societies," Teresa Ribera, the commission’s vice president
overseeing competition affairs, said in a statement.
“This is why we are investigating 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.”
Brussels has no deadline to wrap up the case, which could result
in sanctions including a fine worth up to 10% of the company’s
annual global revenue.
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