German court rules AI search engines liable for generated answers

German media regulators argue that AI‑enhanced search engines must be treated as content providers and be liable for the answers they generate. The Directors' Conference of the State Media Authorities called for a specific legal category for AI search services, stating that “KI‑Suchmaschinen sind Inhalteanbieter – und müssen auch so reguliert werden.”

The Munich District Court (LG München I) issued a preliminary injunction against Google, holding the company responsible for false statements in its AI‑generated summaries. The court said Google could face fines up to €250,000 per violation and must bear 80 % of the legal costs. The decision expands liability beyond mere forwarding of third‑party content, covering any synthetically created text that references identifiable persons or companies. Both developments signal a shift away from the Digital Services Act exemption for platforms that merely transmit third‑party information, urging amendments to national and EU law.

Legal experts advise companies to contest harmful AI‑generated content promptly and to prepare robust compliance procedures, while regulators push for transparency of source selection and placement in AI search results.