GDANSK, Poland – The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) announced Monday that it is investigating Alphabet’s Google for potentially abusing its dominant market position in negotiations with Polish media publishers. The probe focuses on how Google determines remuneration for displaying news articles and snippets in its Search, Google News and Discover services.
Allegations of data withholding
UOKiK alleges that Google did not provide publishers with the data needed to evaluate offers fairly, creating an information imbalance that “made negotiations illusory” and tilted terms in Google’s favor. “Big tech companies cannot place themselves above the law,” said UOKiK President Tomasz Chrostny in the agency’s statement.
Legal backdrop
The investigation stems from a 2024 amendment to Polish copyright law that implements an EU directive requiring online platforms to compensate press publishers for the use of their content. Under the law, firms must negotiate remuneration in good faith, and the regulator can levy fines up to 10% of a company’s annual turnover for violations.
Separate EU inquiry
UOKiK noted that its probe is distinct from a European Commission investigation launched in December 2025, which examines whether Google used publisher content in its artificial‑intelligence services without adequate compensation or a clear objection mechanism. The Polish inquiry proceeds independently following an agreement with the Commission.
Previous competition concerns
Google is not the first major tech firm to face scrutiny in Poland. In December 2024, Allegro’s price‑comparison platform Ceneo sued Alphabet for 2.33 billion zlotys (about $568 million), alleging anti‑competitive conduct. The current case adds to a growing pattern of enforcement actions aimed at ensuring fair competition in the digital market.
Potential outcomes
If UOKiK finds that Google violated competition rules, the regulator could impose a fine of up to 10% of the company’s turnover, a penalty that would send a strong signal to all dominant platforms operating in Poland. The agency’s early statement emphasizes the importance of transparent negotiations and the need for big‑tech firms to respect national law.
Google, its Irish and Polish subsidiaries, and Alphabet have not responded to requests for comment.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
