A coalition of independent publishers has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, accusing Google of market abuse through its AI Overviews feature. Led by the Independent Publishers Alliance and supported by groups like the Movement for an Open Web and Foxglove Legal, the complaint targets Google's AI-generated summaries that appear prominently atop search results. These summaries utilize publishers’ content without allowing them to opt out without losing search visibility. Publishers contend that these AI summaries divert substantial traffic from their original sites, diminishing advertising revenue and threatening the survival of independent journalism. By providing condensed article versions directly on the search page, users are less likely to click through, adversely affecting audience engagement metrics crucial for monetization. The complainants argue this practice unfairly exploits their content and constitutes an abuse of Google’s dominant market position. They have requested interim measures from the European Commission to suspend the practice during investigation to protect independent news organizations. Google defends the AI Overviews feature, claiming it enhances user experience by aiding content discovery and generates billions of clicks daily to publisher sites. It emphasizes that traffic fluctuations are influenced by multiple factors—including seasonal demand, search algorithm changes, and evolving user behavior—not solely the AI summaries. This complaint comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny worldwide.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is reviewing similar issues, while in the US, a lawsuit accuses Google of comparable harm by reproducing publisher content in search services without fair compensation or recourse. The dispute highlights larger challenges in the digital information ecosystem, where major tech platforms leverage AI to aggregate and summarize content, affecting access to information and the financial viability of traditional media. The integration of AI in search engines raises critical concerns about intellectual property rights, fair competition, and sustaining independent journalism. Experts acknowledge that AI-generated summaries can improve information accessibility but stress the need to balance this with preserving economic incentives that support quality journalism. This complaint represents a key case that may influence future regulatory approaches to AI use in search and the rights of content creators. As the European Commission investigates, media, technology, and regulatory stakeholders are closely watching the outcomes and potential policy impacts. The case extends beyond the involved parties, setting a precedent for managing AI technologies in relation to content ownership and fair competition in digital markets. Its resolution will have far-reaching consequences for the interplay between AI, search engines, and independent press globally.