A German court has ruled that Google is liable for incorrect information in its AI Overviews, issuing a temporary injunction against the company. The decision from the Regional Court of Munich marks the first time an AI firm has been held accountable for its tool's outputs in this way. The ruling stems from a case brought by two Munich-based publishers.
The court found that Google’s AI Overviews create independent statements that go beyond linking to third-party sources. In the case, the tool falsely linked the publishers to scams and dubious practices, claims that did not appear in the underlying search results. Google had received a cease-and-desist letter but did not correct the outputs. Unlike traditional search engines, the court said, AI Overviews do not qualify for liability protections because the summaries are not necessary for users to find information online. The ruling requires Google to stop spreading the false claims in any further AI Overviews. Google stated that it is reviewing the preliminary decision, which is not yet final. A spokesperson noted the company invests in the quality of AI Overviews to ensure accurate information.
