German Media Regulator Says Google's AI Overviews Subject to German Media Law
ZAK said AI-generated summaries and chatbot answers are provider-created content, and a Munich court found Google could be liable for false summaries.
- On Tuesday, Germany's media regulator, the Commission for Licensing and Supervision , ruled that Google's AI Overviews and Perplexity AI fall under national media laws, stepping up scrutiny of AI-generated content.
- The regulator argues these AI services function as content providers rather than mere platforms, influencing news discoverability by prioritizing their own summaries over third-party content. ZAK represents 14 state media authorities overseeing these standards.
- A Munich court recently held Google liable for inaccurate AI-produced information, affirming it counts as the company's own content. ZAK Chairman Thorsten Schmiege stated, "AI search engines and chatbots are content providers, and we will consistently apply German media law to them from now on."
- Google plans to appeal, arguing the ruling "fails to recognise how people's preferences when searching for information and the information ecosystem are changing," while Perplexity declined to comment but noted compliance with GDPR and SOC 2 Type II standards.
- Liability exemptions under the Digital Services Act do not apply to these services, according to the regulator, though both companies retain the right to challenge these decisions through formal legal channels.
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German media regulator says Google's AI Overviews subject to German media law
The media institutions classify AI-generated answers as their own content and demand transparency. According to the experts, the DSA liability privilege does not intervene here.
Promptly delivered: The Commission for the Supervision and Approval of the Landesmedienanstalten ranks AI search engines and chatbots as content providers from now on. Thus, the ZAK applies German media law to services such as Google, ChatGPT and Perplexity. The providers can no longer rely on the liability privilege of the Digital Services Act. ZAK Chairman Thorsten Schmiege explains that AI answers are the provider's own content. Tech companie…
Autoritatea media din Germania a a firmat marți că AI Overviews de la Google și Perplexity AI intră sub incidența legislației media din țară, intensificând controlul asupra conținutului generat de inteligența artificială după ce o instană germană a decis că Google este responsabil pentru informații inexacte produse de această funcție. Comisia pentru Licențiere și Supraveghere, ZAK, [...]
The Commission for the Supervision and Approval of the State Media Institutions (ZAK) now classifys AI search engines and chatbots as content providers and applies German media law to them. Google, Chat GPT & Co. can no longer rely on liability law.
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