Google’s bold AI push just hit another European roadblock. Independent publishers have filed a formal antitrust complaint with the European Commission over Google’s AI Overviews feature those AI-generated summaries sitting above search results. The complaint, backed by groups like the Independent Publishers Alliance and Foxglove Legal, alleges Google’s AI Overviews are siphoning traffic, ad revenue, and visibility from original news content. This is more than just a business spat it’s a serious confrontation about AI’s impact on digital journalism.
The complaint claims Google is “abusing its market power” by placing AI Overviews at the top of search results, using material from publishers without meaningful opt-out options. Publishers argue that while Google reaps clicks from its AI-generated summaries, news sites suffer. Foxglove’s Rosa Curling minced no words, calling this “an existential threat to independent journalism.” The complaint demands interim measures to prevent further “irreparable harm” and calls on the EU’s competition watchdog to intervene swiftly.
Quick note for readers unfamiliar with the ongoing AI regulations debate:
The EU AI Act, Europe’s landmark AI legislation, officially began enforcement in February 2025. It sets strict rules for AI systems based on their risk level from outright bans on AI for social scoring or mass surveillance, to tough obligations for “high-risk” applications like facial recognition or AI-generated medical advice. Notably, AI systems producing public content like Google’s Overviews may soon fall under stricter transparency and accountability mandates as the Act’s next phases roll out by 2026. This adds pressure to tech giants facing both legal and public scrutiny.
The timing of this complaint is telling. It arrives while European lawmakers remain firm on implementing the AI Act as planned, despite pushback from tech firms like Google, Meta, and even European AI companies such as Mistral. The Commission recently reiterated there’s “no stop the clock, no pause” on AI Act deadlines. For Google, this means navigating simultaneous antitrust probes and preparing its AI-driven services for stricter European oversight a tricky balancing act.
From my side? I’m not surprised. AI Overviews have been contentious since day one. It’s AI’s convenience versus the fragile ecosystem of independent journalism, and frankly, this clash was inevitable. If OpenAI, Meta, and now Google want to dominate information delivery, regulators will demand a reckoning. The EU AI Act might not save local newsrooms overnight, but it will at least make Big Tech sweat.
