South Africa’s Initiative to Address Digital Journalism Inequities

The South African Competition Commission’s provisional report addresses imbalances in digital journalism influenced by tech giants. Recommendations include financial compensation for local news agencies, algorithm adjustments to support local news, and measures to enhance accountability for misinformation. The final report will follow public comments and highlights the need for fair media practices amid declining print revenue and subscription access challenges.

The South African Competition Commission has released a provisional report aimed at addressing digital journalism imbalances caused by major tech companies like Google, TikTok, and Meta. This report, titled the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry preliminary report, was published on February 24 and is open for public comments for six weeks before the final report’s release in four to five months.

Following a 16-month investigation launched under the Competition Act, the Commission found that digital platforms account for 87% of news consumption as print media declines. The report highlights the shift to digital news sources due to journalists’ migration online, which presents new challenges for the traditional media landscape.

The Commission’s recommendations include a proposed payment from Google to South African news organizations ranging from ZAR 300 million (USD 16.2 million) to ZAR 500 million (USD 27.1 million). It also calls for changes in algorithms to enhance local news visibility, enabling news organizations to opt-out of AI-generated summaries without losing search traffic, and enforcing accountability for misinformation on social media.

Additionally, the report addresses the broader economic challenges affecting news profitability, noting that many South Africans cannot afford to pay for subscriptions. This situation hinders citizens’ access to information, which is their right under the South African constitution. The investigation also considers how AI and new monetization strategies impact both digital and traditional media.

The report underscores the ongoing challenges within the media industry, further complicated by lawsuits against AI companies for using published articles to train models without compensation. The Commission’s findings emphasize the need for immediate actions to ensure a fair media environment for local journalists and news organizations. Notably, this report comes at a time when other legislative measures, like the Expropriation Act, face scrutiny for their potential economic impact.

The South African Competition Commission has taken significant steps toward rectifying inequalities in digital journalism. Its provisional report outlines necessary actions to support local media, including financial compensation and algorithm changes from tech giants. With growing concerns about misinformation and the financial viability of news organizations, this inquiry represents a potential turning point in preserving journalistic integrity and access to information for all citizens.

Original Source: www.africanlawbusiness.com