European press publishers versus Google: removing press content from search results is a serious threat to the financing of journalism
Google must stop undermining the sustainability and visibility of European press content. In a statement published today, supported by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), European press publishers call on the American company to abandon a test designed to remove their journalistic content from Google search results. Whereas the company pretends it aims to measure the ‘attractiveness’ of press content, this test is useless, dishonest and, above all, contrary to the commitments made by Google before the French Competition Authority regarding the implementation of European copyright legislation.
"Google's test is an act of defiance to press publishers, who are simply asking for what they are entitled to under French law. Google's test has a simple consequence which is to make journalistic content invisible in search engine results, and a disastrous impact symbolically. It must be abandoned. This is a sine qua non condition for the resumption of negotiations aimed at determining fair remuneration for journalism on digital platforms. RSF stands alongside European press publishers, and will voluntarily take part in the legal proceedings initiated in France by the Syndicat des éditeurs de presse magazine (SEPM) against Google to defend citizens' right to information .”
Read the full text below
European press publishers and journalists: Google’s unilateral suppression of press content from its services is a warning sign to European democracies and endangers the sustainability of information “Made in Europe”.
European press publishers and journalists are deeply concerned about Google’s ongoing test which stated goal is to remove press content from its services across several European countries for an undetermined period for an estimated 2,6 million European citizens.
This experiment, allegedly aimed at measuring the press's contribution to Google’s brand attractiveness, poses a serious threat to the financial sustainability of a European free press, European journalism and the health of European democracies.
As a digital gatekeeper under the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), Google wields significant influence through its near monopoly on online search, serving as the primary access point to press content for many European citizens. Any action that reduces the press's reach to readers undermines publishers’
ability to fund their editorial teams. Moreover, restricting citizens’ access to information directly affects the quality of democratic debate across Europe.
Based on our extensive experience negotiating with Google, we believe this “test” is conducted in bad faith. Google has been neither transparent nor forthcoming, refusing to share details about the test or
guarantee access to its results. By defining its own research parameters and assessing its own performance, Google risks manipulating the outcome to devalue the press's economic role and its real contribution to Google’s success.
In the context of the ongoing negotiations across Europe to secure fair remuneration for press content under EU copyright law, this experiment appears to constitute a clear act of intimidation. The Competition Authority in France foresaw such behavior and identified the risk of retaliation by Google.
To safeguard a fair negotiation process, it prohibited Google from delisting publisher’s content. This intervention enabled French magazine publishers, through their national association, to secure the temporary suspension of the test in France.
Press publishers and journalists across Europe fully support SEPM’s initiative. We will closely follow the judicial proceedings in France, with the hope that the outcome will affirm Europe’s sovereignty over its information ecosystem.
We also repeat our call on Google to immediately terminate this “test” across all affected countries.
At a time of widespread interference with and manipulation of information and public opinion, a dominant company like Google must take full responsibility for its actions and cease obstructing citizens’ right to access journalistic information.
Signatories:
- European Magazine Media Association (EMMA)
- European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA)
- European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
- News Media Europe (NME)
- Reporters without borders (RSF)
