Media News Daily: Top Stories for 07/16/2026

This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, Censorship Issues, and more.

German Regulator Says AI Search Falls Under Media Law

Germany’s media regulator says Google’s AI Overviews and Perplexity AI are subject to German media law. The Commission for Licensing and Supervision, which represents Germany’s 14 state media authorities, said AI-generated summaries and chatbot responses should be treated as content created by the providers themselves rather than merely third-party material. The move follows a Munich court finding that Google could be directly liable for allegedly false information generated by AI Overviews. ZAK Chairman Thorsten Schmiege said regulators will now apply German media law to AI search engines and chatbots. (Read More) (Reuters Rating)

Google AI Search Fails Child Safety Tests

Google Search’s AI Overviews and AI Mode received the lowest possible rating from Common Sense Media, which said the tools pose an “unacceptable risk” to children. Researchers tested more than 2,600 searches using accounts configured with SafeSearch for 11- and 15-year-olds and found that the AI tools completed homework assignments, gave deepfake instructions that could be used for bullying, and mishandled some mental health crisis-related queries. Common Sense also said the features treated forums and social media posts similarly to medical and peer-reviewed sources. (Read More) (Axios Rating)

New York Times Moves to Quash Reporter Subpoenas

The New York Times has filed a motion to quash subpoenas issued to four of its reporters after coverage of security concerns involving President Trump’s Qatari-donated Air Force One. The paper’s top newsroom lawyer, David McCraw, called the subpoenas “abusive and improper” and said they were brought in bad faith to punish the outlet for its reporting. The subpoenas targeted Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt, who were called to testify before a federal grand jury in New York regarding an alleged violation of federal criminal law. The Justice Department said it respects the media’s role but must also protect national secrets. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)