07:21 AM EDT, 07/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Alphabet's (ABEA.F) Google may be held responsible for YouTube videos promoting online gambling if it has a commercial partnership with the content creator. The court said Thursday that liability protection is only granted if the platform plays a passive and automated role without knowledge or control over the content. It ruled that Google cannot claim to be an intermediary service provider since it reviews the main theme of a video channel before finalizing a commercial partnership contract. The preliminary ruling stemmed from Google challenging a 750,000-euro fine imposed on Google Ireland by Italy's communications regulator in July 2022 following an order to take down YouTube videos that promoted online gambling. Italy's Council of State referred questions for a preliminary ruling to the Court of Justice. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

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