EU antitrust regulators quiz publishers on Google's AI search opt-out

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are seeking feedback from publishers on Google's proposal to let them opt out of AI search without affecting their rankings in search results, a questionnaire seen by Reuters showed.

The publishers' feedback could determine the outcome of an ongoing EU investigation that could result in yet another hefty fine for Google if the proposal fails to address competition concerns and publishers' worries about unfair use of their content.

Google announced its AI opt-out for publishers in June, the same day the UK antitrust watchdog ordered it to allow publishers the option to stop their content being used to power its AI features.

The U.S. tech giant, which plans to roll out the opt-out globally, declined to comment and referred to its June 3 blog post on the topic.

Its AI Overviews, which are AI-generated summaries that appear above traditional hyperlinks, have triggered EU antitrust complaints by publishers concerned about falling traffic and declining revenues.

The EU questionnaire, sent out in July with an August 28 deadline for replies, asked if publishers will make use of the opt-out and the factors influencing their decision.

The document also asked publishers for their views on changes to Google's search box announced in May which included bringing AI Overviews and AI Mode into one AI Search.

The world's most popular internet search engine has racked up more than 10 billion euros in EU antitrust fines for various violations over nearly two decades.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)