April 22, 2026
TOKYO – Due to concern that search engines using AI are scraping articles and other content by news organizations without permission, the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association on Monday demanded the government develop a system that would keep AI from using such content without permission.
The association, also known as Nihon Shinbun Kyokai, claims that news organizations are unable to block Google LLC’s AI searches from using their content, including news stories. Therefore, the association demanded the government introduce as quickly as possible a system that would allow them to refuse the U.S. company use of their content.
In the statement that included the demand, the association noted there has been an increasing number of cases in which AI search services fetch content from news organizations that are unaware of what is happening, or cases in which those services ignore the wishes of organizations that do not want their content used. The statement claims that the bottom line of news organizations is being threatened by the rise of AI searches, which “free ride” on their content and infringe on their copyright.
When Google indexes content, it does not differentiate between content for regular searches and that for AI searches, making it impossible for news organizations to only block AI searches. The association views this as highly problematic.
“Using its dominant position in the search market, [Google] forces us to provide its AI searches with content, which is suspected to be an abuse of a dominant position under the Antimonopoly Law,” the statement says, calling for a quick response to the issue.
In December, the Japan Fair Trade Commission launched a survey on this issue as Google is suspected of using news organizations’ articles without their permission. The competition watchdog in Britain has also proposed a corrective measure on AI searches that targets Google. Based in part on this proposal, the association insisted on a measure that would both make it possible to block AI searches from using content and improve transparency in content use by such services.
AloJapan.com