European Publishers Council files antitrust complaint against Google over AI Overviews

The European Publishers Council has filed an antitrust complaint against Google, arguing that AI Overviews use publisher content without fair compensation while making it effectively impossible to opt out without damaging search visibility. The complaint comes as the Reuters Institute’s 2026 predictions report found publishers expect search engine traffic to drop 43% over the next three years.

The tension between AI search platforms and content creators is intensifying across Europe. Google is reportedly developing new search controls that would let websites opt out of generative AI features, responding to UK competition authority concerns. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of top news publishers now block at least one AI training crawler via robots.txt – but this creates a dilemma, since blocking AI crawlers may also reduce the site’s visibility in AI-generated answers.

For specialist publishers and niche content platforms, the complaint signals that the regulatory framework around AI search is being actively contested at EU level. The outcome could reshape how AI systems source, cite, and compensate content creators – directly relevant to any organisation that relies on being discoverable through search, whether traditional or AI-powered.