Google is no stranger to scrutiny from government agencies such as the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the European Commission. Now you can add another study to your list: the European Commission did it An antitrust investigation was opened in the company about the content used for the artificial intelligence tools. The commission is investigating two cases, starting with whether Google used content from web publishers for its AI Overview and AI Mode services without “adequate compensation” or the ability to “opt out” of their material.
“The Commission will investigate the extent to which Google’s generation of previews and AI modes rely on content from web publishers, without providing adequate compensation and without allowing publishers to opt out without losing access to Google Search,” the EU’s executive body said in its statement. “Many publishers rely on Google Search for user traffic and don’t want to risk losing access to it.”
The second part of the commission’s investigation also examines possible AI-related abuse by Google. It is investigating whether Google used content uploaded to YouTube to train its generative AI models. As in the first case, the commission is “concerned” that YouTube creators are not adequately compensated or have the ability to prevent Google from using their content.
In the summary of its investigation, the commission notes that creators must allow Google to use their data in exchange for uploading media to YouTube. He added that AI developers competing with Google would not be able to use YouTube content to train their models.
“AI is bringing remarkable innovation and countless benefits to people and businesses across Europe, but these advances must not come at the expense of the principles that underpin our societies,” Teresa Ribera, vice-president for a clean, fair and competitive transition at the European Commission, said in a statement. “For this reason, we are investigating whether Google may have imposed unfair terms on publishers and content creators while discriminating against developers of competing AI models, in breach of EU competition rules.”
A Google spokesperson told Engadget that the study “risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever. Europeans deserve to benefit from the latest technology, and we will continue to work closely with the creative and information industries as they enter the age of artificial intelligence.”