Sanef achieves a successful milestone against unfair competition from big tech firms
24 February 2025
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) welcomes the provisional findings and remedies released by the Competition Commission Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI).
Sanef led calls together with other media advocacy groups and organisations in 2023 to make representations to the Competition Commission on unfair commercial practices by the big tech companies which have negatively impacted SA media. The South African media landscape has been decimated over the past 20 years due to the digitisation and social media usage. The MDPMI report shows the journalism workforce has been halved in the same period.
Few countries in the world (Canada and Australia) have challenged the big tech firms for compensation. The world has been waiting to see how SA fares in this Inquiry.
The commission found that freedom of expression, plurality, and diversity of media, which are entrenched in our Constitution, have been seriously infringed upon. The impact of these tech firms has been particularly devastating for local/community media, most of which not only suffered financial losses but had to retrench workers and shut down operations with calamitous consequences.
Other consequences of market dominance by big tech firms have been the spread of mis and disinformation and cyberbullying.
The Inquiry further highlights the important role played by the news media, not only concerning competition laws but also human rights, which was central to Sanef’s submissions.
Sanef welcomes the finding of the report, that the big techs – X (formerly Twitter), Meta, Google, and YouTube, among others – have all contributed to losses by SA media companies. Sanef also has some questions about the remedies and recommendations, in terms of quantum.
The report recommends R300-500 million of compensation by Google, over a three to five years period, but Sanef believes the big techies ought to be held accountable for losses already incurred too. Quantitatively, the R300-500 million appears too conservative given the scale of the damage done to South African media in general.
Part of the Inquiry’s recommendations was the establishment of a Journalism Sustainability Fund. Sanef has already initiated this and is appealing to companies for donations towards it. Tax breaks were also recommended including a levy on Google searches, which the government can take on, if it agrees with the commission’s remedies.
The report dealt with Ad tech, AI and chatbots, social media, and disinformation, people receiving their news from Google searches while recognising that digital platforms do not create content themselves. They aggregate content that was produced by paid journalists whose organisations incur massive costs in news production.
Sanef calls on all stakeholders to engage with the Competition Commission report and make submissions in the next four months. The final report will be released later this year.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism by fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. Sanef is not a union.
For more information, please contact:
Makhudu Sefara – Chairperson (079) 177-2134
Tshamano Makhadi – Deputy Chairperson (082) 223-0621
Dr. Glenda Daniels – Secretary-General (083) 229-9708
Sbu Ngalwa – Treasurer-General (073) 404-1415
Sli Khanyile – Media Freedom Chair (083) 471-0367
Katy Katopodis – Wellness and Safety Chair (082) 805-7022
Judy Sandison – KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
Rochelle De Kock – Eastern Cape Convenor (072) 969-8028
Sisanda Nkoala – Western Cape Convenor (073) 138 5564
Reggy Moalusi – Executive Director (071) 682-3695
Twitter: @SAEditorsForum
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sanef.org.za
