European Commission Investigates Google For Using Website Content For AI Overview And AI Mode
JAKARTA After Meta, the European Commission is now starting an antitrust investigation into Google. This investigation focuses on the search features on Google Search, namely AI Overview and AI Mode.
In this investigation, the European Commission suspected that Google used content from websites and YouTube without proper compensation to publishers. The Commission wants to ensure that Google does not violate competition laws.
During the investigation, the European Commission will review whether Google has harmed competition in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) market. In addition, the agency will investigate coercion of 'unfair terms and conditions to publishers and content creators'.
Specifically, the European Commission will investigate the extent to which AI Overview and AI Mode manufactures the appropriate uncompensated web publisher content. What's more, publishers have no choice to refuse without losing access to Google Search.
The European Commission also raised concerns about how Google used videos from YouTube to generate AI answers. The Commission will find out if Google is also using data from user content on YouTube forcibly.
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Another problem is Google which prohibits competing AI companies from using YouTube content to train their AI models. This policy is considered to hinder healthy innovation and competition in the AI market.
In response to this investigation, a Google spokesperson stated that this investigation could hinder innovation in the highly competitive AI market. Google also insists that it continues to work closely with the relevant industries.
"The people of Europe have the right to benefit from the latest technology, and we will continue to work closely with the news and creative industry as they transition to the AI era," Google said, launching from TechCrunch on Wednesday, December 10.