Google has agreed to pay more than $40 million to support South African news media, many of which are struggling in the digital era, the country’s Competition Commission announced Thursday.
The tech giant’s funding comes amid growing scrutiny of platforms such as TikTok, X, and Facebook, which regulators say have engaged in anti-competitive practices that disadvantage local media by limiting their digital distribution and revenue potential.
Following a 16-month investigation, the commission had initially recommended that Google pay up to $27 million annually for five years. The final agreement, however, commits Google to a 688 million-rand ($40.4 million) support package.
Under the arrangement:
- $4 million will go to national publishers and broadcasters over five years for content on Google News.
- $2.6 million will be allocated annually to support artificial intelligence innovation.
- Community and smaller media outlets will receive $2.2 million over three years to aid digital transformation.
The commission said Google will also roll out tools to prioritize local news sources, provide technical support to improve website performance, and share enhanced audience data. YouTube will assist with monetization efforts, while algorithmic adjustments will aim to reduce bias in favour of foreign outlets.
Comparable funding initiatives have already been introduced in countries such as Taiwan, Canada, Australia, and the United States, amid global regulatory pressure.
TikTok has agreed to offer tools enabling media organizations to monetize off-platform content, while X, owned by Elon Musk, did not reach a settlement. The platform has been directed to make all monetization programs accessible to local publishers and to provide training workshops, though it retains the right to appeal.
