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Brazil Antitrust Regulator Advances Probe Into Google’s Use of News Content

By  |  April 26, 2026

Brazil’s antitrust authority has decided to push forward with a deeper investigation into how Alphabet’s Google uses journalistic content, signaling renewed scrutiny of the tech giant’s role in the country’s media and search markets.

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    The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) approved a recommendation on Thursday to expand the scope of an ongoing case examining whether Google may have abused its dominant market position, according to Reuters. The move sends the matter back to CADE’s general superintendence for formal administrative proceedings, marking a shift from earlier conclusions that had suggested the case be closed.

    The decision follows a proposal by interim CADE chief Diogo Thomson de Andrade, who argued that Google’s conduct has evolved significantly since the initial probe began in 2019, per Reuters. That earlier inquiry focused on competition in Brazil’s search and news sectors, particularly looking at how Google collects and displays journalistic content in its search results.

    At the time, CADE’s technical staff had recommended shelving the case, citing insufficient evidence of wrongdoing. However, new findings presented by de Andrade suggest that developments in Google’s technology—especially the integration of artificial intelligence tools—may warrant a closer look.

    According to Reuters, the updated analysis highlights how Google’s newer generative AI features now synthesize information directly within search interfaces, potentially reducing the need for users to visit original news sources. This shift, regulators argue, could deepen the dependency of publishers on Google’s platform for visibility and audience reach.

    De Andrade also raised concerns that such practices may amount to exploitative behavior, noting that Google could be extracting value from third-party journalistic content without offering proportional compensation, according to Reuters. The analysis underscores what regulators describe as a structural imbalance between the platform and news organizations.

    Google responded to the development by disputing the regulator’s interpretation. In a statement, the company said it believes CADE’s decision reflects a “misunderstanding” of how its products function, adding that it will continue to cooperate with authorities to address any concerns.

    Source: Reuters