Spurious DMCA Claim Removes Press Gazette Investigation into Clickout Media's AI Content from Google

A Press Gazette investigation into AI-generated sports journalism published by online marketing company Clickout Media was removed from Google search results following a fraudulent DMCA copyright claim. An anonymous entity calling itself DRF Corp filed the takedown with Google, falsely alleging that Press Gazette had copied its content word for word — when the content cited as the original source was an unrelated Reddit post about online casinos.

This marks the second time a fake copyright complaint has been used to suppress Press Gazette's reporting on Clickout Media this year. The targeted article detailed how Clickout Media had acquired reputable UK sports websites and populated them with AI-generated reporters whose stories contained errors and fabrications. The story was temporarily removed from Google search results before being reinstated on 2 July 2026, but the episode highlights a growing tactic of using bogus legal mechanisms to manipulate search engine visibility and silence critical journalism.