EU regulators ask publishers about Google AI-search opt-outs

reports say that European Commission antitrust officials asked publishers whether they can prevent content use in Google AI search features without losing placement in traditional search. The questionnaire is part of an inquiry, not a decision.

Why it matters: Granular content controls affect publisher bargaining power, licensing, attribution and web traffic as search shifts from links to generated answers.

Business/technical/strategic impact: Publishers should preserve crawl, referral and licensing evidence. A related UK CMA requirement is official, but the EU process is still investigatory.