Photo/Illutration AI-powered search services are increasingly popular across all devices. (Nobufumi Yamada)

Media organizations are protesting unauthorized use of their content by emerging AI-powered search services, demanding that platform operators obtain permission from copyright owners.

In a statement released on July 17, the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association said that the outputs generated by these AI search engines closely resemble the original news stories they rely on, creating a high risk of copyright violation.

Unlike traditional search engines that return a list of relevant websites, new services featuring artificial intelligence provide answers directly in text format, similar to a chat log.

This offers users quick answers and potentially eliminates the need to explore further on the internet.

The association slammed the practice of "freeriding on the labor of news outlets," criticizing Google, Microsoft and other companies operating such services.

The statement also called for the accuracy and reliability of information to be ensured, highlighting instances in which AI had generated misinformation by distorting or fragmenting news articles out of context.

The association warned that undermining the media could have devastating consequences for the foundations of democracy and the nation's culture.

It urged the government to update copyright laws and other intellectual property legislation to address these concerns.

Google’s Japan arm told The Asahi Shimbun that it "complies with applicable Japanese laws and respects copyrights."

Microsoft also emphasized that it "provides products and services in compliance with Japanese laws."

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