Poland Investigates Google for Alleged Abuse of Market Dominance in Media Payments
Poland’s competition regulator has launched an investigation into Google, accusing the tech giant of abusing its dominant market position in negotiations with Polish media publishers over content payments. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is examining how Google negotiates payments for displaying publishers’ articles and snippets on its platforms, including Google Search, Google News, and Discover. The regulator claims Google did not provide publishers with enough data to properly assess its payment offers, creating an imbalance in negotiations.
The case follows a 2024 change to Polish copyright law, which implemented a European Union directive requiring online platforms to compensate publishers for using their content. The Polish investigation was conducted independently but in coordination with the European Commission. A company found guilty of abusing a dominant market position could face a fine of up to 10% of its turnover.
This investigation is separate from a European Commission probe launched in December 2025 into whether Google used publishers’ content for its artificial intelligence services without adequate compensation or an opt-out option. Google LLC, Google Ireland, and Google Poland are all named in the case.
In a related development, Polish e-commerce group Ceneo sued Alphabet in December 2024, seeking 2.33 billion zlotys in damages, alleging anti-competitive behavior.