"Penske said in its complaint that about 20% of Google search results with a link to one of its sites include AI Overviews and that percentage has been rising. Penske also said revenue on its sites from affiliate links for online shopping have dropped by more than a third since the end of 2024, which it attributed to decreased traffic from Google."
""Siphoning and discouraging user traffic to PMC's and other publishers' websites in this manner will have profoundly harmful effects on the overall quality and quantity of the information accessible on the internet," the complaint alleges, using the acronym for Penske Media Corp. "We have a responsibility to proactively fight for the future of digital media and preserve its integrity - all of which is threatened by Google's current actions," Penske said."
Penske Media, owner of Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard and Variety, filed a lawsuit against Google over AI Overviews. The complaint alleges Google used Penske content while AI Overviews appeared in about 20% of search results linking to its sites, reducing referral traffic. Penske attributes a drop of more than one-third in affiliate shopping revenue since late 2024 to decreased Google traffic. The complaint warns that diverting and discouraging user traffic will harm the quality and quantity of online information. Google called the claims meritless and said AI Overviews make Search more helpful and create discovery opportunities.
Read at Search Engine Roundtable
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