German courts treat Google AI answers as the company’s own statements
Original title: Two German courts now hold Google liable for what its AI overviews say
Aachen barred three false AI Mode texts about a physician, with fines up to 250,000 euros per breach.
Munich Regional Court I ruled in late May that Google is directly liable for AI Overviews that falsely tied two publishers to fraud. Google’s announced appeal ended in a settlement, so no higher court reviewed that reasoning. On September 24, 2026, the Aachen Regional Court relied on the same view and barred Google from spreading three fabricated AI Mode accounts about a physician. Google had refused removal; the injunction is not final.
Unconfirmed: Why the Munich case settled is unknown, and Google can still challenge the Aachen injunction.
- The physician left a neuroradiology post in late June 2026; a colleague flagged the claims on August 28.
- AI Mode attributed another professor’s criminal case to him, including invented proceedings.
- Google said in mid-September it would take no action after email and formal demands.
- Aachen acted without first hearing Google because of reputational harm.
- Settlement terms, including whether money changed hands, were not disclosed.
- Vendors
- Products
- AI OverviewsAI Mode
- Organizations
- Munich Regional Court IAachen Regional Court
- Countries
- Germany
From the original article
4 min read at the-decoder.com
Google tried to overturn a landmark Munich ruling on AI search liability by appealing, then quietly settled. The strategy isn't working. The Aachen Regional Court just applied the exact same reasoning in a new case where Google's AI falsely attributed criminal offenses to a doctor that actually involved someone else.
By Matthias Bastian · the-decoder.com
A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.