Observed Signal · Nov 15, 2024 · Policy Update · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Google begins hiding EU publisher news in European Search results
Google has launched a limited, time-bound test in Europe that removes news results from EU publishers across Google Search, Google News, and Discover. The test covers 1% of users in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, while the test in France has been paused. Google says regulators and publishers requested additional data on the impact of news content on user experience and publisher traffic. Results from non-EU news providers will still be shown. The article also notes that Google recently expanded AI Overviews to 100 additional countries, but not to EU states, reportedly due to unsettled copyright issues. Meanwhile, AI startups OpenAI and Perplexity have signed deals with numerous publishers to display their content within AI chatbot answers.
Google is testing the removal of EU news publisher results in key European markets, which could significantly impact publisher referral traffic and ad revenue if expanded. The test comes amid regulatory pressure and the rise of AI-generated search experiences.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Google started a limited test removing EU publisher news results from Google News, Search, and Discover.
- The test applies to 1% of users in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
- Google has paused the test in France for now.
- The test aims to measure how EU news results affect user experience and publisher traffic.
- Google expanded AI Overviews to 100 additional countries, excluding EU states.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“Google has started a test run and will not show results from EU news publishers in Google News, Search, and Discover....”
“AI startups OpenAI and Perplexity are on the rise and have entered deals with numerous publishers to display their content in AI chatbot ans...”
“AI startups OpenAI and Perplexity are on the rise and have entered deals with numerous publishers to display their content in AI chatbot ans...”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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