Second German court holds Google liable for its AI search answers
The Aachen Regional Court, in a decision dated September 24, 2026, issued a preliminary injunction barring Google from spreading false statements about a physician through its AI search results, explicitly relying on the reasoning of the Munich Regional Court I. Both courts classified AI-generated text not as links to third-party websites but as Google's own statements, making the company directly liable. The physician was wrongly linked by Google's AI Mode to a sexual assault allegation and a fabricated legal aftermath that actually involved a different former university professor; according to the court, the texts were still live after Google said in mid-September it would take no action. Google can challenge the injunction, which is not final, and faces fines of up to 250,000 euros per violation if it breaches the order.
The Aachen court cited Munich's reasoning and wrote that "the respondent provides AI-generated search and is therefore also responsible for the answers generated in this context," suggesting a consistent legal view is forming across German courts.
Two German courts now hold Google liable for what its AI overviews say
Matthias Bastian View the LinkedIn Profile of Matthias Bastian
Oct 18, 2026
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Key Points
- In a preliminary injunction, the Aachen Regional Court barred Google from spreading false claims about a doctor through its AI search results. The system had attributed criminal allegations and proceedings to him that actually involved a different person.
- The court relied on a Munich Regional Court I ruling and classified the AI-generated texts not as mere links to third-party websites but as Google's own statements, making the company directly liable.
- Google dodged a binding higher-court ruling in the Munich case by settling, but courts keep applying the same reasoning. If this legal view holds up, the consequences for Google could reach far beyond individual false claims.
#Google#Aachen Regional Court#Munich Regional Court I#AI Overviews#AI Mode