Germany rules Google AI Overviews, Perplexity are media content

German media regulators ruled that Google's AI Overviews count as Google's own content rather than neutral search results, and that they crowd out regular links. The regulators issued first-of-their-kind rulings against both Google and Perplexity under Germany's State Media Treaty; both companies have one month to appeal.

Why it matters: This is among the first regulatory rulings anywhere to classify AI-generated search summaries as publisher content rather than neutral infrastructure, which could expose them to media liability and licensing obligations instead of search-engine legal protections. If upheld, it sets a template other EU regulators may apply to AI Overviews and answer engines more broadly.