Italy’s communications watchdog Agcom is preparing to report Google AI Mode to the European Commission, citing concerns over its impact on the media, Agcom president Giacomo Lasorella said on Wednesday.
Lasorella was speaking at a conference on artificial intelligence at Sapienza University of Rome. He said the authority had been asked to examine the relationship between the press and Google’s AI-powered search feature. He added Agcom was now ready to act. Lasorella noted that Germany’s media regulator had already taken a similar step.
“There is a clear case of an impact on information. By searching in AI Mode, the risk is that newspapers will no longer be read,” Lasorella said.
Google AI Mode presents users with AI-generated summaries in response to search queries. Its design delivers direct answers without requiring users to click through to external websites. While promoted as a way to make search faster and more efficient, media groups across Europe argue that it diverts traffic away from news publishers, undermining their visibility and revenues.
“Restricting freedom of information”
Lasorella warned that this shift could have broader implications. “There is a risk of restricting freedom of information and the right of citizens to access multiple sources of information,” he said, referring to protections set out in EU media legislation.
He added that Google’s AI Mode was only one of several cases in which new digital services were raising regulatory concerns. “We are trying to address these issues effectively, together with the Commission and other European regulators,” he said. He further stressed the need for support from the scientific and research community.
“The current complexity requires constant dialogue between institutions and the research sector,” Lasorella concluded.
