Poland Accuses Google of Abusing Dominant Position in Publisher Payments

Poland's antitrust regulator, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), has accused Google of abusing its dominant market position during negotiations with local media publishers over content payments. The investigation focuses on how Google handles remuneration for displaying articles and snippets in its search results, Google News, and Discover services. UOKiK alleges that Google failed to provide publishers with essential data, creating an imbalance that hindered fair negotiations.

UOKiK President Tomasz Chrostny criticized the situation, stating that big tech companies cannot operate above the law. He emphasized that the lack of data made negotiations ineffective, essentially allowing Google to impose its terms. The dispute originates from a 2024 amendment to Polish copyright law, which implemented an EU directive requiring online services to compensate press publishers for using their content.

The regulator noted that the maximum fine for abusing a dominant market position could reach 10% of the company's turnover. This investigation is separate from the European Commission's probe, which began in December 2025, into whether Google adequately compensated publishers for using their content in AI services. UOKiK clarified that its probe is independent but aligned with the Commission's agreement.

In a related case, Polish e-commerce group Allegro's price comparison platform, Ceneo, sued Alphabet in December 2024, seeking 2.33 billion zlotys ($568 million) in damages for alleged anti-competitive behavior. None of the Google entities named in the statement immediately responded to requests for comment.