French publishers ask France's competition authority to curb Google AI summaries citing 33-38% traffic loss
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France's General Information Press Alliance asks the country's competition authority to intervene against Google's AI-generated article summaries. Regulator Arcom estimates the AI Overviews and AI Mode features cost French news publishers 33% to 38% of traffic, while the alliance demands fair remuneration under French law.
The Alliance's Request
The General Information Press Alliance filed a request with France's competition authority, demanding action against Google's AI-generated article summaries. The Alliance says Google's deployment of AI Overviews and AI Mode violates prior commitments on authorization and remuneration. Regulator Arcom estimates these features cause 33% to 38% traffic loss for French news publishers.
Arcom's Traffic Estimate
Arcom, France's independent regulator for audiovisual and digital communication, attributes 33% to 38% of lost publisher traffic to Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode. The estimate covers French online newspapers and magazines affected by the search features. Google previously paid a €500 million fine in France after dropping an appeal over copyright obligations in June 2022.
Publisher Demands
Marc Feuillée, President of the General Information Press Alliance, said publishers are not asking to stop AI innovation. Feuillée called for the value of press content used in AI to be shared and remunerated as required by French law. Google France's country manager, Sebastien Missoffe, said the company would continue to secure agreements with eligible French publishers.
What's Next
France's competition authority is expected to decide whether to open formal proceedings against Google, though no timeline has been announced. It remains unclear whether Google will negotiate new AI-specific licensing terms with French publishers or challenge any regulatory action.
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French publishers ask France's competition authority to curb Google AI summaries citing 33-38% traffic loss
