The Independent Publishers Alliance, together with other groups like the Movement for an Open Web and Foxglove Legal, have filed a formal complaint today with the European Commission alleging that Google abuses its dominance in search by surfacing AI Overviews that summarize publisher content without opt-out options or attribution.

These AI Overviews—deployed in over 100 countries since last May—appear above traditional search results and often include ads. Publishers contend they're being “squeezed out” from their own work, losing traffic and unverifiable AI summarization compromises their revenue.

Google responded, saying “new AI experiences…create new opportunities for content and businesses,” asserting these features actually drive billions of referrals each day.

The publishers are also seeking an interim measure to temporarily halt AI Overviews in Europe, citing the risk of “irreparable harm” to independent journalism.

Key Highlights

• Antitrust complaint launched by independent publishers over AI summarization

• EU Commission petitioned alongside overtures to the UK CMA

• AI Overviews appear above search results, often with ads included

• Publishers lack opt-out, raising concerns over traffic and revenue loss

• Google defends feature, claiming it benefits publishers and users

Why This Matters

1. Content control vs AI convenience: Highlights tensions between AI summarization and publishers' ownership rights.

2. Regulatory pressure intensifies: Could trigger explicit opt-out frameworks or attribution mandates in the EU.

3. Precedent-setting case: May influence global AI search feature regulations (e.g., US, UK).

4. Media industry effect: Independent publishers stand to lose visibility if AI snippets dominate SERPs.

Source:
Reuters– Full Article