Google is once again facing serious questions. This time, the issue is its AI Overviews feature, which shows quick answers at the top of Google search results. In Europe, a group of independent publishers has filed a legal complaint against this feature.
They say that Google’s AI is using their content to answer user questions without asking for permission. As a result, people are not clicking on their websites anymore. This means publishers are losing readers and earnings.
What Is Google AI Overviews?
The AI Overviews feature was launched by Google in 2024. It shows a short, AI-made summary at the top of search results. This summary is made using information from many websites. The goal is to save time for users, but publishers say it hurts them.
Earlier, if someone searched for something, they had to click a website to read full details. Now, many users read the summary only and leave, which means less traffic to the original websites.
Google has also started showing ads inside these summaries, which helps Google earn money — but not the content creators.
What Is the Complaint?
The complaint was filed by a group of small publishers in the European Union (EU). They said Google is unfairly using their content and not giving them any benefits.
The complaint calls AI Overviews a “serious and possibly permanent threat” to independent journalism. The publishers are asking the EU Commission to stop this feature for now and to review how it works.
They said, “Google’s strong control over search is being used to show AI answers made from content it does not own.” As a result, websites are seeing less traffic, fewer readers, and lower income.
What Did Google Say?
Google replied by saying that it still sends billions of clicks every day to websites and that the AI feature actually helps people ask more questions.
A Google spokesperson said, “Traffic can change for many reasons — like user behavior, season, or search algorithm updates. AI Overviews is just one part of the whole experience.”
However, many groups like Foxglove Legal, Independent Publishers Alliance, and Movement for an Open Web disagree. They believe AI Overviews hurts journalism, especially small news websites.
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One of the leaders of these groups said, “Independent journalism is under threat. Google must give publishers the choice to opt out from AI Overviews.”
Similar Complaints in Other Countries
It’s not just Europe. A company in the United States has also filed a complaint saying that Google’s AI is reducing demand for original content in education.
This shows that many people around the world are concerned about how AI is being used to collect and show information without asking the real content creators.
Why This Matters
This issue is about fair competition and the future of journalism. If big companies like Google keep using content without permission, smaller websites may not survive. The EU complaint is important because it may decide how AI tools are allowed to work in search engines.
Disclaimer: This article for general understanding. Information is based on reports available as of July 2025. Final decisions or legal outcomes may change as the investigation continues.
