Understanding the Value of News Content to Google

During our ongoing efforts to comply with the European Copyright Directive (EUCD), numerous reports have surfaced that significantly overestimate the value of news content to Google. In order to address these inaccuracies and provide regulators with more comprehensive data, we initiated a public experiment. This experiment involved measuring the value of news results for Google by temporarily removing European news content for a small subset (1%) of users across eight EU countries.

Key Findings of the Study

The results of the experiment are now available, revealing that European news content in Search has no measurable impact on Google’s ad revenue. The study demonstrated that when this content was removed, there was no noticeable change in Search ad revenue. Furthermore, the usage dropped by less than 1% (0.8%), indicating that any lost usage was primarily from queries that generated minimal or no revenue. Additionally, the study found that the combined ad revenue across all Google properties, including our ad network, remained unchanged.

Google’s Role Beyond News

People use Google for a wide range of purposes, from finding local services like a florist, checking the weather, to booking flights. This study showed that even when Google is less useful for news, users still rely on it for these various tasks. Despite this, we have consistently supported the news ecosystem in its transition to digital as part of our commitment to fostering a vibrant and healthy content ecosystem. We will continue to collaborate with publishers to help them reach their audiences in an environment of rapidly evolving technologies.

Detailed Report

For a more in-depth look at the experiment and its findings, you can access the detailed report here.