• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, Yesterday

It would not have been seen as possible even a short time ago. But Google has announced it is exploring ways to allow content producers to opt out of having their work used in products like AI Overviews or AI mode. 

This is not necessarily a benign move. According to the News/Media Alliance, Google is facing increasing scrutiny for the extensive drops in click-through rates and web traffic.

Moreover, the decision follows the publication of the UK Competition and Market Authority’s proposed conduct requirements related to Google’s strategic market status in search.

There it is. What can we make of it?

“Google’s announcement today is a welcome sign that the company is finally starting to listen to publishers, although only in response to sustained regulatory pressure," writes Danielle Coffey, president and CEO of the News/Media Alliance. Publishers have spent too long being held hostage by Google’s decision to tie traditional search and AI search bots together, leaving publishers no choice but to relinquish valuable content for AI purposes that provide little return."

"Publishers – not just in the UK but in the United States and elsewhere – need and deserve the ability to opt out of Google’s AI to preserve the web traffic they need to fund the creation of quality content. We also welcome this tacit acknowledgement that permission is required under law to use copyright-protected content, something that Google’s peers in the AI space should recognize as well," she writes.

Coffey adds: “But while we’re cautiously optimistic that Google is on the right track, we will await further confirmation that this announcement, together with the CMA’s proposed conduct requirements, leads to lasting change. In the meantime, we will continue to hold Google accountable until a full opt-out, without penalty for traditional search, is implemented in the US.”