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The European Commission opened a formal antitrust investigation into Alphabet’s Google on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. The inquiry will examine whether Google has used generative AI tools to squeeze competition. It will also assess claims of unfair terms for publishers and creators. Officials will focus on AI features in Google Search. The regulators will also review rules for AI training with YouTube videos. The move adds to wider EU scrutiny of AI data.
The Commission will assess whether Google relies on web publishers’ material to generate AI Overviews and AI Mode answers without adequate compensation. Regulators want to know if Google gives itself privileged access to publisher output. They will also check whether these practices disadvantage other AI developers. The investigation links to concerns that AI-generated results can reshape advertising markets.
Publishers argue that AI summaries above traditional links reduce clicks to original articles. They say this shift can weaken ad and subscription revenue. The Independent Publishers Alliance filed a complaint on June 30, 2025, and asked the Commission for interim measures. The group says publishers cannot keep content out of AI systems without risking visibility in Google’s general search listings.
Regulators will also investigate Google’s use of YouTube videos to train its generative AI models. The Commission will examine whether creators must allow AI training as a condition of uploading. It will also consider whether Google offers fair remuneration for that use. Officials will evaluate how these terms affect creators who depend on the platform.
YouTube introduced a tool in late 2024 that lets creators restrict third-party AI training. However, regulators note that creators still cannot block Google from training its own models on their videos. The probe will assess whether YouTube policies prevent rival AI developers from using video content under comparable conditions. This issue may influence competition in video-based AI services.
The new case follows years of EU enforcement against Google across search, shopping, and advertising. In September 2025, the Commission fined Google €2.95 billion for abusing its dominant position in advertising technology. This decision highlighted the importance of fair platform rules for publishers that rely on digital ad markets.
Under EU competition law, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue if regulators confirm an abuse of dominance. The Commission has not set a deadline and said the opening of proceedings does not prejudge the outcome. Google said the complaint risks stifling innovation. The company also said AI features in Search can create new opportunities for content discovery.
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