Poland investigates Google over media publisher payment disputes

Poland’s antitrust regulator, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), has launched a probe into Alphabet’s Google for allegedly abusing its dominant position in negotiations with local media publishers. The investigation centers on how Google negotiates payments for displaying articles and snippets in its search results, Google News, and Discover services.

UOKiK claims that Google failed to provide publishers with sufficient data to evaluate offers fairly, creating an information imbalance. This imbalance, according to the regulator, made negotiations ineffective and allowed Google to impose its own terms. UOKiK President Tomasz Chrostny emphasized that big tech companies cannot operate above the law.

The regulator noted that the maximum fine for abusing a dominant market position could reach 10% of Google’s turnover. The investigation highlights ongoing tensions between tech giants and media publishers over content payments and fair practices.