**European Commission Launches New Antitrust Investigation Into Google Under the Digital Markets Act**
The European Commission is preparing to begin a new antitrust investigation into Google under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This probe will focus on how the company ranks news publishers in its search results.
The investigation stems from complaints by European news publishers who allege that Google unfairly demotes outlets that include “third-party” promotional content, such as sponsored articles or paid editorial pieces. Publishers argue that this type of content is essential to their revenue models.
### The EU Brings Charges Against Google
Critics, including various news industry groups, claim that Google’s practice gives an unfair advantage to publishers without such promotional content and stifles competition in the digital advertising space. The EU’s probe alleges that the American tech giant is violating the DMA, legislation designed to prevent large “digital gatekeepers” from unfairly disadvantaging other businesses operating on their platforms.
If Google is found to have violated the DMA, it could face fines of up to 10% of its global turnover—potentially amounting to billions of euros—along with orders to change its algorithms or business practices.
### Ongoing Investigations and Recent Fines
Google is already under multiple DMA investigations in the EU. These include probes into whether its search engine favors its own services over competitors and whether it obstructs developers from redirecting consumers to offers outside its app store.
This new investigation comes just two months after the European Commission fined Google €2.95 billion for its search advertising practices. That penalty even prompted then U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten additional tariffs against Europe.
Google has publicly defended its ranking systems as neutral and based purely on user relevance.
Meanwhile, the news has generated buzz among some observers who welcome the move as a step toward leveling the playing field against Big Tech dominance.
### Google Faces Additional Lawsuit Over Gemini AI Privacy Concerns
At the same time as it fights the antitrust allegations, Google is also being accused in a lawsuit of using its Gemini AI assistant to unlawfully spy on the private communications of users of Gmail’s instant messaging and videoconference programs.
Previously, users had the option to enable Google’s Gemini AI in Gmail, Chat, and Meet. However, in October, the Alphabet Inc. unit reportedly “secretly” activated Gemini for all those applications. This meant it could collect private user data “without the users’ knowledge or consent,” according to a complaint filed late Tuesday in federal court in San Jose, California.
While the company does not prevent users from turning off Gemini, the AI tool’s deactivation requires navigating Google’s privacy settings—something many users may not be aware of, claims the proposed class-action lawsuit.
If users do not take this step, Google allegedly uses Gemini to “access and exploit the entire recorded history of its users’ private communications, including literally every email and attachment sent and received in their Gmail accounts,” according to the complaint.
### Legal Implications
The lawsuit alleges that Google is violating the California Invasion of Privacy Act, a 1967 law that prohibits surreptitious wiretapping and recording of confidential communications without the consent of all involved parties.
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