French Court Orders Google To Halt News Search Scheme

A Paris court has ordered Google to stop a planned project that would allegedly suppress certain media articles in its search results.

France previously compelled Google and Facebook to pay some French media outlets for showing their articles in search results after initial resistance. I Photo: Robbie Shade Flickr

The ruling was issued as an emergency injunction sought by the SEPM union representing French magazine staff, was reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The SEPM union claimed that Google planned to start testing a system on Thursday that would remove search results for articles from media outlets it is in conflict with over compensation for online news usage.

Google defended the project as a “time-limited experiment” aimed at assessing the influence of content from European publishers on user experience.

SEPM, which represents 80 media organizations, welcomed the court's decision, calling it a victory for the French press. European Union regulations on "neighboring rights" enable print media to demand compensation from platforms for using their content.

France, a pioneer in enforcing these rules, previously compelled Google and Facebook to pay some French media outlets for showing their articles in search results after initial resistance.