EU investigates Google over ‘demoting' commercial content from news media

Core Points - The EU has initiated an investigation into Google Search due to concerns that the company is "demoting" commercial content from news media sites, leading to reduced visibility in search results [1][5] - The investigation is focused on the potential unfair loss of visibility and revenue for media owners, which may stem from Google's anti-spam policy [2][5] - The European Commission emphasizes that media partnerships with businesses should be treated fairly in the online marketplace, similar to offline practices [3][4] Group 1 - The investigation is not about the overall indexing of newspapers but specifically targets commercial content provided by third parties [3] - Evidence suggests that certain sub-domains of newspapers, such as those offering discounts in partnership with brands like Nike, are being demoted to the point of being unfindable in Google Search [4] - The European Commission is collecting evidence from publishers regarding the impact on traffic and revenues due to suspected unfair practices [5][6] Group 2 - The EU aims to protect traditional media, which faces challenges in the online marketplace, especially with the rise of AI and threats to media funding [7] - The investigation is categorized as a "normal non-compliance" inquiry, with potential fines of up to 20% of revenue if systematic non-compliance is found [8]