Media groups demand tech firms to pay for news as AFP launches copyright case against Twitter, now known as X. ARCHIVE

AFP news agency has filed a copyright lawsuit against Twitter, recently rebranded as X, as part of a global effort to compel tech firms to compensate news organizations for sharing their content. The lawsuit against the social media giant was filed in France on Wednesday (August 2). Media groups have long contended that their stories and images add value to platforms like X, Facebook, and Google, warranting a share in the profits. This argument gained traction with the 2019 EU law that established "neighbouring rights," allowing payments for shared content. Consequently, Google and Facebook eventually agreed to pay some French media outlets. However, AFP accuses X, owned by billionaire tycoon Elon Musk, of outright refusal to engage in discussions about neighbouring rights. In response, the news agency has taken the matter to court, seeking access to data that would enable them to determine a fair compensation level. A statement from AFP emphasizes their commitment to advocating for the adoption of neighbouring rights for the press. The agency plans to employ legal measures to ensure the equitable distribution of the value generated by the sharing of news content with relevant platforms. X has not provided any immediate comment on the case. While media groups in France have seen some success, tech giants have fiercely resisted similar proposals in other countries. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently blocked users in Canada from accessing news organization posts due to a law mandating content compensation. Google has also threatened similar action. Both Meta and Google have opposed comparable proposals in Australia. Critics accuse these companies of dominating online advertising while freely using content from traditional news organizations, effectively siphoning away their revenue. KKL/Expat Media
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