Google Zero is under investigation by the European Union over concerns that it violated competition rules by imposing restrictions on web publishers and YouTube creators to gain an unfair advantage over other AI companies.
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The concerns raised by the European Commission include the use of content by web publishers for features like AI Overviews and AI Mode in Search, as well as the feeding of content from YouTube into Google’s generative AI models — all without providing “appropriate compensation” or the ability to refuse such use of their content. These concerns are linked to the existential threat of “Google Zero” — when Google Search will no longer refer users to third-party sites, depriving them of traffic and revenue.
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The Commission will explore the ability for web publishers to keep their content out of Google’s AI functions without losing access to Search, which many depend on for user traffic. It notes that YouTube’s policies allow Google to train on uploaded content, while prohibiting its use to train competing AI models.
The EU says the investigation is being conducted “as a matter of priority.” There is no official deadline for the investigation. If Google is found to have violated EU competition laws, it could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported annual revenue of $350 billion in 2024, putting the potential fines at up to $35 billion.
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“A free and democratic society depends on diverse media, open access to information and a vibrant creative landscape. These values are central to who we are as Europeans,” said European Competition Commissioner Teresa Riberain the announcement. “AI brings remarkable innovation and many benefits for people and businesses across Europe, but this progress cannot come at the expense of the principles that lie at the heart of our societies.”
