Germany Rules AI Overviews Are Media Content

German media regulators classified AI search engines and chatbots as content providers, issuing first rulings against Google and Perplexity under the State Media Treaty. The Commission for Licensing and Supervision (ZAK) found that AI-generated responses are the providers' own content, not protected by the Digital Services Act's liability shield. Google faces action for allegedly using AI summaries to discriminate against journalistic sources.