The battle between artificial intelligence and independent journalism just escalated in the UK. A new legal complaint filed by prominent advocacy and industry groups accuses Google AI Overviews of severely damaging the news publishing ecosystem. The complaint, submitted to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), urges immediate intervention to prevent irreparable harm.
Three groups Foxglove, the Independent Publishers Alliance, and the Movement for an Open Web have joined forces to demand urgent regulatory action. Backed by antitrust law firm Preiskel and Co, the coalition argues that Google’s AI summaries are repurposing publisher content without consent, diverting traffic away from sources. This shift, they claim, threatens the very survival of the UK news industry.
Why UK News Publishers Are Sounding the Alarm
At the heart of the issue is how Google AI Overviews work. Instead of linking directly to news articles, the AI displays summaries that often remove the need for readers to click through. This change has led to a measurable drop in traffic for many outlets. According to Mail Online’s editorial director Carly Steven, clickthrough rates have fallen by over 50% when AI summaries appear in search results.
The complainants argue that this is not just unfair it’s unsustainable. They fear that smaller and independent media outlets, already facing financial strain, could vanish entirely if this practice continues unchecked. In a sector where visibility equals viability, AI Overviews are becoming a silent killer.
The Legal Complaint Aims to Force a Fairer System
The legal document submitted to the CMA accuses Google of “abusing its market dominance” by promoting AI-generated responses over original reporting. It calls for interim measures that prevent Google from using publisher content in AI Overviews unless the publisher opts in voluntarily.
The proposed remedies are specific and practical. One key request is to allow publishers to opt out of AI Overviews without losing their placement in standard search results. The current “all or nothing” system where opting out of AI means disappearing from search altogether is described as a coercive tactic.
Groups behind the complaint want the CMA to impose conduct requirements that ensure publishers are compensated fairly. They also want Google to stop scraping content for AI use unless explicitly authorized.
Voices from the News Industry Demand Urgency
Foxglove director Rosa Curling has strongly criticized Google’s practices. She said that using journalists’ work without payment is not just unethical, it gives Google an unfair advantage. According to Curling, allowing this to continue risks “sinking” the independent UK news industry entirely.
Similarly, James Rosewell of the Movement for an Open Web described Google’s actions as theft both of content and traffic. He emphasized that waiting for regulatory processes to conclude could prove fatal to many media outlets. Rosewell believes interim action must come now before it’s too late to save British journalism.
Google’s Defense and the CMA’s Upcoming Role
In response, Google maintains that its AI tools benefit the web. The company claims that AI Overviews lead to more searches and more site visits overall. It also argues that publishers have control over what appears in Search, including through snippet tools.
But critics say this isn’t enough. They highlight internal Google discussions from a U.S. antitrust trial which revealed the company’s reluctance to allow publishers to opt out of AI while remaining in search. For many, that’s proof that Google values monetization over fairness.
The CMA has already proposed that Google be given a “strategic market status” under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. If designated, the authority would gain new powers to ensure companies like Google operate on reasonable terms with publishers. These powers could go into effect as early as October.
What Happens Next Could Shape the Future of Journalism
This case is more than a battle over search traffic it’s about the future of democratic discourse. If Google AI Overviews continue to erode the visibility of original reporting, news publishers fear their business models may collapse. With fewer independent voices, the public could suffer from limited access to trustworthy information.
Publishers and advocates are now watching the CMA closely. If interim measures are not enacted soon, they warn the damage to the UK news industry could be irreversible.
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