For the second time, Google faces an antitrust investigation to determine whether it excludes its rivals through its AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Fatima Guadarrama
Google faces an antitrust investigation by the European Union (EU) for using online content from editorials and videos of YouTube to train your models and services of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
It is the second investigation of the European Commission on Google in less than a month. And it highlights growing concern about Big Tech’s dominance of new technologies, which could exclude your rivals.
Regulators are concerned that Google has given himself a unfair advantage when using content for two search services: AI Overviews y AI Fashion. Above all, without paying to editors and content creators or allow them to opt out.
“Google could be abusing its dominant position as a search engine to impose unfair commercial conditions on publishers by using its online content to offer its own AI-based services,” declared EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera.
Los AI Overviews son automatically generated summaries that appear at the top of your traditional search results. Meanwhile, AI Fashion provides chatbot type responses to search queries.
According to them, the authorities are trying to determine if Google gained an advantage over its AI rivals by imposing unfair terms and conditions, or by giving itself a privileged access to the content.
“This complaint risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever. Europeans deserve to benefit from the latest technologies and we will continue to work closely with the news and creative industries as they transition into the age of AI.”
Tensions with the United States
This series of regulatory actions—focused on large technology companies—could generate tensions with the government of Donald Trump. This, although EU authorities denied that they were focusing solely on American companies.
Last week, the Commission (which is the main body of antitrust control of the bloc of 27 countries) opened an antitrust investigation into the AI policy of WhatsApp.
He also fined the sociodigital network X of Elon Musk with 120 million euros (2.5 billion pesos) for violating digital regulations, prompting complaints from Trump officials.
There is no deadline for completing the case, but sanctions could be imposed, including a fine of up to 10% of global income annual company.
Using AI to commit fraud
The Senate, through the Political Coordination Board (Jucopo) chaired by Adam Augusto Lopez Hernandezsent a strangeness to Google Mexico for allowing the dissemination of a fraudulent campaign in YouTube that uses AI, in order to impersonate the image and voice of the president Claudia Sheinbaum.
The letter was addressed to Hugo Martínez McNaughthead of Government Relations and Public Policy at Google Mexico.
The paid advertisements using altered digital images and audio attribute alleged attacks to the president. invitations to invest or receive financial benefits.
“The frequency of these messages, especially in the early hours, leaves no doubt that it is a structured campaign, which includes various promises such as: monthly income of 100 thousand pesos, purchase of Pemex shares or a large monthly allowance.”
In six points, the Morena coordinator presents the reasons for his estrangement:
- The campaign is structured and not accidental.
- There is impersonation of a constitutional authority.
- The advertisements contain completely false claims.
- People’s privacy and economic resources are put at risk.
- It is not freedom of expression, but rather the promotion of an illegal act.
- The ads appear as “sponsored”, which implies that there is a payment approved by the platform.
Adam Augustus maintained that this campaign represents a real risk for the privacy, identity and economic resources of those who may be victims of deception.
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