Arya News - The European Commission launched an investigation Tuesday into Google on allegations of antitrust practices for using websites in its AI.
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The European Commission launched an investigation Tuesday into Google on allegations of antitrust practices for using websites in its artificial intelligence to the detriment of competitors.
The commission said in a press release that it"s investigating whether the tech giant had breached European Union competition rules by using web and video content for AI without compensation to web publishers or giving them the chance to opt out.
Google may have used the content of web publishers to create its AI Mode summaries on search pages without compensation, the release said.
It"s also looking into whether YouTube, owned by Google, used creators" videos to train generative AI models without paying for the content or allowing creators to refuse.
Also at issue are Google"s allegedly unfair terms and conditions and whether Google is using them to distort competition, giving itself access to content that other AI developers don"t have, the release said.
"A free and democratic society depends on diverse media, open access to information, and a vibrant creative landscape. These values are central to who we are as Europeans," said Teresa Ribera, the EU"s executive vice president for clean, just and competitive transition, in a statement. "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. 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."
Google responded to the allegations.
"This complaint risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever," a Google spokesperson told CNBC . "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."
In November, the EU announced an investigation into Google over concerns that it "demotes" the content of news publishers and other media sites. Monitoring found that selected content by sponsors or advertisers was granted a lower priority by Google Search and that it was less or no longer visible in search queries, the EU said.
In September, the commission fined Google $3.455 billion for violating the European Union"s antitrust practices in advertising technology, prompting a threat by President Donald Trump to impose higher tariffs.
The commission said it fined Google "for breaching EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the advertising technology industry. It did so by favoring its own online display advertising technology services to the detriment of competing providers of advertising technology services, advertisers and online publishers."
The EU has been coming for several big tech companies lately.
The commission fined X $140 million Friday for deceptive practices around its blue checkmark. Musk responded by calling for the abolition of the EU .
Last week, it announced it had begun an antitrust investigation into Meta over access to WhatsApp.