By Manisha Sahu, America News World
Date: October 17, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of the tensions between legacy media and Big Tech, Italian newspaper publishers have formally requested a regulatory investigation into Google’s AI Overviews feature—arguing that it is starving news sites of traffic, undermining media diversity, and threatening journalistic sustainability.
The Federation of Italian Newspaper Publishers (FIEG) lodged a complaint on October 16 with Agcom, Italy’s communications regulatory authority. The crux of the complaint: Google’s AI-generated summary boxes, which appear at the top of search results, are diverting readers away from news websites, thereby undercutting their advertising revenue and visibility.
“Google is becoming a traffic killer,” FIEG declared in its submission, stating that such design choices not only compete directly with publisher content, but diminish discoverability and threaten the economic basis of journalism.
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Background: What Is Google’s AI Overviews?
Launched in 2024, AI Overviews are sho summaries automatically generated by Google’s AI (drawing on web content) and displayed at the top of relevant search result pages. The idea is to give users quick, contextual answers without requiring them to click through to external sites.
Google also offers a companion feature called AI Mode, which behaves more like a chatbot—integrating information from multiple sources. Publishers worry that AI Mode amplifies the same structural problem: presenting synthesized content instead of routing users to original journalism.
Supporters of AI Overviews argue that it improves user experience by providing instant relevant information and that it can drive “better quality” clicks to sites. Google maintains that AI Overviews, along with traditional link-based results, can coexist in a “healthy ecosystem” for publishers and users alike.
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The Publishers’ Case: Traffic Drops, Revenue Declines, and Media Risk
The heart of the complaint is empirical: publishers say that since AI Overviews began rolling out in Italy (around March 2025), referral traffic from Google has dropped steeply. The FIEG submission cites internal data, as well as independent studies, claiming click-through rates have plunged by as much as 80 % for certain queries.
One July 2025 study by analytics firm Authoritas found that AI Overviews reduced traffic to many publishers’ pages and disproportionately favored YouTube links—owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet.
Likewise, Pew Research Center data suggests that under many AI summaries, users only click on external links in 1 out of 100 cases—a striking decline in engagement with original sources.
FIEG warns this is not a minor disruption but a threat to media plurality and democratic discourse. As fewer readers access full stories, publishers lose ad revenue, and the variety of voices in public debate shrinks.
They further argue that this model essentially forces publishers into a coercive “choice”—grant Google access to their content for summarization or risk being buried entirely.
Broader Complaints in Europe and Beyond
Italy is not alone. Earlier in 2025, a coalition of independent European publishers lodged an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, accusing Google of abusing its dominance in online search by using publisher content without offering a real opt-out.
These publishers contend that Google’s dual role—as a search indexer and as a producer of AI-generated answers—creates a structural conflict of interest. The complaint requests interim measures to protect publishers from further harm while investigations proceed.
In parallel, lawsuits in the U.S. have emerged. Notably, Chegg—an online learning company—has sued Google over AI Overviews, alleging traffic and revenue losses caused by the summaries.
Google’s Defense & the Regulatory Landscape
Google has pushed back on many of these allegations. It criticizes some of the cited studies as methodologically flawed, and argues that traffic fluctuations can stem from many factors—algorithm changes, seasonal demand, evolving user behavior—not merely the presence of AI Overviews.
Still, Google says it is working to balance traditional web links and AI-generated responses to preserve discoverability. The company insists that AI Overviews can drive users deeper into more sources by prompting related queries.
Italy’s recent adoption of a comprehensive AI regulation, aligning with the EU’s AI Act, gives this case extra heft. The legislation imposes liability rules and governance on AI use, including obligations to prevent misuse and ensure transparency.
If Agcom finds merit in FIEG’s complaint, it could trigger penalties or binding directives restricting how Google uses publisher content in AI Overviews.
What’s Next & Why It Matters
The Italian publishers’ complaint could mark a turning point in the power struggle over digital journalism’s future. If regulators demand changes, Google might be forced to adjust how AI Overviews are generated, present options for publishers to opt out, or share more revenue or attribution.
For publishers worldwide, the outcome may define whether AI summarization becomes a tool for democratizing access—or a mechanism for monopolizing content. With newsrooms already under financial stress, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
America News World by Manisha Sahu will continue to monitor developments and report as the case evolves.
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**, we dive into why your electric bill is climbing and what can be done. ### Why Are Electricity Prices Rising? Electricity costs are soaring across the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), household electricity prices are expected to jump 13% from 2022 to 2025. In some states, the increase is even steeper. For instance, Maine saw a 36.3% spike, while Connecticut faced an 18.4% rise between May 2024 and May 2025. Nationwide, the average household paid 17.47 cents per kilowatt-hour in May 2025, up from 16.41 cents a year earlier—a 6.5% increase. So, what’s driving these hikes? First, there’s a massive surge in electricity demand. More people are using air conditioners during hotter summers. Electric vehicles and heat pumps are also becoming popular. However, the biggest culprit is the rapid growth of AI-powered data centers. These facilities, run by tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, use as much electricity as small cities. A single AI search, like one on ChatGPT, consumes 10 times more power than a regular Google search. Additionally, natural gas prices, a key fuel for power plants, have climbed. The aging US power grid also struggles to keep up. Many transmission lines and power plants date back to the post-World War II era. As a result, utilities are spending billions to upgrade infrastructure, and those costs are passed on to consumers. > **Data Highlight: Electricity Price Trends (2022-2025)** > Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration > - **2022**: 14.96 cents per kWh > - **2023**: 15.87 cents per kWh > - **2024**: 16.41 cents per kWh > - **2025 (May)**: 17.47 cents per kWh > *Note*: Some states like Maine (+36.3%) and Connecticut (+18.4%) saw sharper increases. ```chartjs { "type": "line", "data": { "labels": ["2022", "2023", "2024", "2025 (May)"], "datasets": [{ "label": "Average US Electricity Price (cents per kWh)", "data": [14.96, 15.87, 16.41, 17.47], "borderColor": "#007bff", "backgroundColor": "rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.2)", "fill": true }] }, "options": { "responsive": true, "maintainAspectRatio": false, "scales": { "y": { "beginAtZero": false, "title": { "display": true, "text": "Price (cents per kWh)" } }, "x": { "title": { "display": true, "text": "Year" } } } } } ``` ### The AI Power Problem The AI boom is transforming how we live, work, and search online. But it comes at a cost. Data centers that power AI tools are sprouting up fast. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of US data centers doubled. By 2030, they could consume 5% to 9% of the nation’s electricity, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. This is a big jump from just 4% in 2022. For example, PJM Interconnection, which serves 67 million people across 13 states, reported a massive spike in demand. In 2024, its capacity auction prices jumped 833%, with data centers driving nearly 70% of the increase. This led to higher bills for households in states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio. In Columbus, Ohio, typical electric bills rose by $27 a month in 2025. Moreover, AI tasks are energy hogs. Generating a single high-definition AI image uses as much power as charging a smartphone halfway. As more people use AI for work or fun, the strain on the grid grows. Tech companies are racing to build bigger data centers, but the power supply isn’t keeping up. This mismatch is pushing prices higher. > **Image**: An Amazon Web Services data center in Boardman, Oregon, August 2024. (Source: Jenny Kane/AP) > *Caption*: Data centers like this one are driving up electricity demand across the US. ### Other Factors Behind the Price Surge While AI is a major player, it’s not the only reason for rising bills. Natural gas prices have spiked, making it more expensive to generate electricity. Also, the US power grid is old and needs upgrades. The Department of Energy says 70% of transmission lines are nearing the end of their lifespan. Replacing them costs billions, and consumers foot the bill. Extreme weather is another issue. Heat waves and storms are more frequent, forcing utilities to repair or harden the grid. In California, utilities spent $27 billion from 2019 to 2023 on wildfire prevention and insurance. These costs trickle down to customers. Meanwhile, some states are phasing out coal plants, but new renewable energy projects face delays due to permitting issues. For more insights on how energy costs affect households, check out **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)** for the latest updates. ### Solutions to Ease the Burden Thankfully, there are ways to tackle rising electricity costs. First, experts suggest speeding up the permitting process for new power plants, especially solar and wind. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that solar and wind could add 110 terawatt-hours of power for data centers by 2030. Streamlining permits could bring these projects online faster. Next, tech companies are stepping up. Google recently signed deals to reduce AI data center power use during peak grid times. Amazon is investing in small modular nuclear reactors to power its operations cleanly. These efforts could lower costs and emissions in the long run. Additionally, hardening the grid can help. In Florida, utilities are using concrete poles and advanced tech to make power lines hurricane-proof. In California, moving lines underground reduces wildfire risks. These upgrades cost money upfront but save on repairs later. Finally, power purchase agreements (PPAs) let data centers buy renewable energy directly. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and keeps costs down for consumers. Co-locating data centers with solar or wind farms is another smart move. For more on clean energy solutions, visit **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)**. > **Data Highlight: Projected Data Center Power Demand** > Source: Electric Power Research Institute > - **2022**: 4% of US electricity consumption > - **2030 (Projected)**: 5% to 9% of US electricity consumption > - **Growth**: Data center energy use could double by 2030. ```chartjs { "type": "bar", "data": { "labels": ["2022", "2030 (Projected)"], "datasets": [{ "label": "Data Center Electricity Consumption (% of US Total)", "data": [4, 7], "backgroundColor": ["#28a745", "#dc3545"], "borderColor": ["#28a745", "#dc3545"], "borderWidth": 1 }] }, "options": { "responsive": true, "maintainAspectRatio": false, "scales": { "y": { "beginAtZero": true, "title": { "display": true, "text": "% of US Electricity" } }, "x": { "title": { "display": true, "text": "Year" } } } } } ``` ### What’s Next for Consumers? Electricity prices may keep rising if demand outpaces supply. The White House warns that AI data centers could push prices up 9-58% by 2030 without new investments. The US needs $1.4 trillion by 2030 to meet growing power needs, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisors. This includes building new power plants and transmission lines. However, not all hope is lost. Renewable energy is getting cheaper. Solar and wind projects are expanding, and nuclear power is making a comeback. For example, Microsoft is reviving Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power its AI tools. These efforts could stabilize prices over time. Consumers can also take action. Using energy-efficient appliances, sealing home leaks, and switching to LED lights can lower bills. ### Global Impact and Local Action The AI-driven power surge isn’t just a US problem—it’s global. Data centers worldwide could consume 3-4% of global power by 2030, up from 1-2% today, according to Goldman Sachs. In Europe, countries like Ireland and Germany are seeing similar price hikes. In Asia, Malaysia’s data centers could account for one-fifth of power demand growth. Locally, communities near data centers face challenges. Noise, water use, and power outages are common complaints. Some states, like Pennsylvania, are pushing back. Governor Josh Shapiro has threatened to pull the state from PJM if costs don’t drop. For more on local energy issues, ### Looking Ahead The AI revolution is exciting, but it’s putting pressure on power grids and wallets. While tech companies and utilities work on solutions, consumers are stuck with higher bills. By investing in clean energy, upgrading grids, and managing demand, the US can balance innovation with affordability. Stay informed with **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)** for the latest energy news. For a deeper dive into how AI is reshaping the energy landscape, check out this [CBS News article](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-data-centers-electricity-demand-power-grid-us/) on the growing strain on US power grids.](https://america112.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1198006_3_0818-NPRICES-lines-lede.jpg_standard-1.jpg)
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