Poland Accuses Google of Unfair Practices in News Content Displays

Poland’s antitrust regulator has accused Google of engaging in unfair market practices, particularly in how it displays content from local media publishers. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) claims that Google abused its dominant position by failing to provide necessary data during negotiations with news publishers regarding compensation for displaying their articles on Google Search, Google News, and Google Discover.

Tomasz Chróstny, president of UOKiK, stated in a press release that Google did not comply with rules requiring the tech giant to share specific information needed to determine fair compensation for publishers. The regulator could impose a fine on Google amounting to up to 10 percent of the company’s annual revenue if the allegations are proven.

This is not the first time Google has faced antitrust scrutiny in Europe. The European Commission has also opened an investigation into whether Google adequately compensates publishers for using their content in features like AI Overview and AI Mode. Previously, UOKiK had accused Apple of creating unfair competition in the personalized ads market through its App Tracking Transparency feature.