NAIROBI, Kenya- Google’s attempt to test a new feature for limiting certain media content in French search results hit a legal roadblock this week.
On Wednesday, a Paris court ordered the tech giant to suspend its experimental project, which allegedly involved suppressing specific media articles in its search engine—an action that French magazine publishers say jeopardizes press freedom.
The ruling followed an emergency injunction filed by SEPM, a union representing France’s magazine staff, who voiced concerns about Google’s handling of “neighboring rights” for content used in search.
According to Google, the project was a short-term initiative meant to measure how content from European publishers impacts users’ search experiences.
However, SEPM argued that Google intended to suppress certain content from news organizations with which it has disagreements over compensation.
The organization, representing 80 media groups, welcomed the court’s decision, which it said would help “preserve the interests of the French press.”
Under the court’s order, Google is prohibited from proceeding with its experiment and faces a €300,000 fine for any violation.
The company expressed surprise at SEPM’s reaction, stating it was merely collecting data based on requests from both regulatory authorities and press publishers seeking more insight into how news content displays impact search results.
This move is part of a larger struggle between online platforms and European media companies over revenue generated from shared content.
In recent years, Google and other major platforms have faced criticism for profiting off news articles without compensating the publishers who create them.
In response, the European Union established a copyright law in 2019 known as “neighboring rights,” granting publishers the right to demand compensation for online use of their work.
France has emerged as a proving ground for the EU’s neighboring rights law. After some initial resistance, both Google and Facebook agreed to compensate French media outlets for displaying their articles in search results and news feeds.
But disputes persist, particularly with Google’s approach to honoring these agreements. In March, the French Competition Authority fined Google €250 million for failing to meet commitments related to neighboring rights—another mark in the complex negotiations between tech companies and European publishers.
This standoff extends beyond Google. Social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) has also come under fire, with major French newspapers like Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Le Parisien filing a lawsuit over similar concerns.
Even the national news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) is suing X, with a court hearing scheduled for May 2025, marking a continued fight for compensation across the digital landscape.
As the Paris ruling halts Google’s experiment, French media groups stand firmly on their rights to fair compensation, accusing tech giants of bad faith in negotiations.
For now, SEPM and Google remain in talks, but the court’s order serves as a reminder of the high stakes for publishers looking to retain control over their content’s value online.
The outcome of these disputes could set a precedent for similar cases across Europe, as media organizations increasingly demand transparency and fair play from the platforms that depend on their content.
This saga highlights a growing global debate over the balance of power between tech giants and traditional media, with France at the heart of the action.
