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EU Launches Investigation into Google Zero: Antitrust Concerns Raised

Published

2 months ago

December 9, 2025

Google Zero is under investigation by the EU

European Union Investigates Google for Alleged Competition Breaches

The European Union has launched an investigation into Google over concerns that the tech giant may have violated competition rules. The EU is focusing on allegations that Google imposed restrictions on web publishers and YouTube creators in order to gain an unfair advantage over other companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

Concerns Raised by the European Commission

The European Commission has outlined specific concerns regarding Google’s practices. These include using content from web publishers for features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode in Search, as well as feeding YouTube content into Google’s generative AI models without providing adequate compensation or the option to refuse such use of their content. The EU is particularly worried about the potential impact of Google’s actions on the ecosystem, referring to the concept of “Google Zero” where Google Search could stop referring users to third-party sites, leading to a loss of traffic and revenue for those publishers.

Investigation Focus Areas

The European Commission will be looking into the ability of web publishers to opt out of Google’s AI features while still maintaining visibility on Google Search. Many publishers rely on Google Search for user traffic, making this a critical issue. Additionally, the Commission will examine YouTube’s policies, which allow Google to use uploaded content for training its AI models while prohibiting the same content from being used to train competing AI models.

Potential Consequences for Google

The EU has labeled this investigation as a priority, signaling the seriousness of the allegations against Google. If found guilty of breaching competition laws, Google could face fines of up to 10 percent of its global annual revenue. With Alphabet, Google’s parent company, reporting annual revenue of $350 billion in 2024, potential fines could reach as high as $35 billion.

European Commissioner’s Statement

Teresa Ribera, the European competition commissioner, emphasized the importance of media diversity, open access to information, and a thriving creative environment in a free and democratic society. While acknowledging the positive impact of AI innovation, Ribera stressed that progress should not compromise the fundamental values of European societies.