Story
French Regulator Orders Meta to Resume Payment Talks with News Publishers
Summary
France's competition authority has directed Meta Platforms to restart negotiations with French media groups concerning unpaid fees for the use of their content. The regulator found that Meta likely abused its dominant market position and has given the company 15 days to propose a payment plan.
France's competition authority on Wednesday ordered Meta Platforms to resume negotiations with French news publishers over fees for using their content online. The regulator stated that Meta likely abused its dominant position and has given the company 15 days to present a detailed payment proposal to the media groups.
The order follows a complaint from French media associations DVP and APIG, which represent major newspapers including Le Monde and Les Echos. The groups alleged that Meta attempted to unilaterally impose its own method for calculating remuneration and failed to provide the necessary information for a fair evaluation. A previous payment agreement between the parties expired in 2024, and the publishers have reportedly not received fees since the beginning of 2025, despite their content remaining on Meta's services.
The dispute centers on the European Union's "neighbouring rights," a directive that allows print media to seek payment from online platforms for the digital use of their content. France has been a strong enforcer of these rules, previously issuing significant fines in similar cases involving other tech companies. In this instance, the authority chose not to fine Meta, stating it wanted to avoid setting a specific amount that might hinder the negotiation process.
AdIn a statement, Meta said it disagreed with the authority’s decisions but would engage with the process, expressing hope that publishers would now negotiate in good faith. Media rights group DVP said it was satisfied with the decision and welcomed the renewed talks.