South Africa’s Competition Commission has intensified its efforts to hold major digital platforms accountable for using news content generated by local publishers. The regulator’s latest provisional report from the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry recommends that Google, Meta Platforms, and other digital giants compensate local media companies for content that drives user engagement and advertising revenues on their platforms.
The Commission proposes that Google pay local publishers between R300 million ($16.3 million) and R500 million ($27 million) annually over a three- to five-year period. This recommendation aligns with similar global initiatives, such as Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code, which has led to significant financial agreements between tech firms and news outlets.
Local media houses have struggled financially as advertising revenue has migrated to digital platforms, leaving traditional publishers with shrinking income streams. Google and Meta (especially its search engines), in particular, dominate online advertising in South Africa, benefiting from news content while providing little to no direct compensation to its creators.