French antitrust regulators allege Meta abused its dominant position by refusing to share data for fair content payment calculations.
France’s competition authority directed Meta Platforms to resume negotiations with media groups over publishing fees, setting a 15-day deadline for a new payment proposal. The order follows complaints from publishers after talks collapsed earlier this year, leaving French media without payments since 2024.
The dispute centers on EU “neighbouring rights” laws, which require tech firms to compensate publishers for digital content use. Meta’s previous agreement with press associations DVP and APIG expired in 2024, with disagreements over payment methodology and data transparency stalling negotiations.
Regulators found Meta’s fee calculation methods potentially abusive, citing a refusal to consider alternative methodologies or share necessary data. The case reflects broader tensions between publishers and tech platforms over content remuneration and AI training data usage.