The European Union backs Italy's right to make Meta pay for news
5 hours ago
- #Platform Regulation
- #News Compensation
- #EU Copyright Law
- The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Meta must comply with Italian laws requiring fair compensation negotiations with news publishers.
- Italy's 2021 law, enforced by AGCOM, grants regulatory powers to demand data, intervene in talks, and fine non-compliant platforms to ensure fair pay for news content.
- The court rejected Meta's claims that the law overstepped EU copyright directives, stating it supports publishers in charging for content and recouping production costs.
- The ruling emphasizes that platforms, not publishers, hold key financial data, creating an imbalance; the law aims to level the negotiating field and prevent platform pressure.
- Publishers can refuse or offer content for free, and platforms cannot restrict content visibility during negotiations, preserving press freedom and valuing journalism.