A light has been shone on the systemic challenges that face regional and local news publishers in the digital age.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s final report from its Digital Platform Services Inquiry was released on Monday, June 23 and drew attention to a range of issues threatening journalism.

This included a lack of dispute resolution options for small publishers, harmful practices by dominant platforms and the growing use of AI tools that can devalue or displace credible news.

The inquiry, which has been going for five years, was the third inquiry the ACCC had completed on digital platforms since 2017.

Country Press Australia, the national body representing the rights of regional media outlets, has issued a formal response to the inquiry’s findings.

CPA president Andrew Schreyer said the report was a confirmation to its publishers that global tech giants were using their market dominance to control how journalism was accessed, valued and monetised in Australia, to the detriment of local news.

“Local and regional publishers continue to face deeply entrenched power imbalances in their dealings with the major digital platforms,” Mr Schreyer said.

“This has real consequences for the sustainability of journalism in our communities.”

Last year, Meta announced it would no longer pay Australian news publishers for their content on Facebook, following on from the Federal Government’s implementation of the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code in 2021.

The code was created to address bargaining power imbalances between Australia news media and digital platforms, specifically Facebook and Google, and ensure these publishers were paid for their content.

This code previously saw an estimated total of $70 million in payments made to these publishers a year.

In December 2024, the government announced the News Bargaining Incentive, which will ensure large digital platforms contribute to the longevity and growth of Australian journalism by entering into commercial agreements with digital publishers.

This followed on from recommendations made in previous ACCC digital media inquiries.

In response to Meta’s non-compliance with the code, Mr Schreyer is calling on the government to swiftly implement the crucial News Bargaining Incentive legislation.

“The incentive legislation is essential to ensure that all major platforms are required to contribute to the journalism they benefit from, either by negotiating in good faith or by making a fair payment,” he said.

The report highlighted the use of AI and how it could displace credible news sources. Mr Schreyer said this was why it was vital major platforms were held and seen as responsible for how news was ranked, labelled and monetised, and defined what the role of AI in those processes was.

“We support stronger platform obligations to prevent scams and fake reviews, and we also support enforceable transparency requirements that ensure fair treatment of news content,” Mr Schreyer said.

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Sunday, 7th July 2024

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