Science & Technology

Malaysia considering rules to make Google, Meta pay for local news content

Bangkok, Sep 5 (EFE).- Malaysia said on Tuesday it is considering new regulations that will require internet giants including Google and Meta to “fairly compensate” local news outlets for publishing their content on their respective platforms.

In a statement, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the new regulations would focus on addressing digital market challenges including the disparity in the incomes of digital platforms and local media “to ensure fair compensation for news content creators.”

The Malaysian regulatory authorities said they have recently discussed the implantation of the possible regulations with Google and Meta representatives and were planning to hold talks with TikTok representatives as well.

The regulatory body called the talks “a pivotal move toward regulating digital platforms and addressing the challenges posed by the evolving landscape of online media.”

It said the initiative goes beyond simply paying news creators and is the “beginning of a revolution” in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

The commission acknowledged the importance of AI and aims to implement “rules of the road” for ensuring “fair and wise practices” that encourage “fair competition, strengthen intellectual property rights, and protect consumers from online harms and (breach of) privacy.”

MCMC added that Malaysian authorities would strive to foster an environment where digital platforms operate “fairly, responsibly, and in the best interest of the public.”

In 2021, Australia was the world’s first country to implement a law that forced online platforms such as Google and Meta to sign voluntary compensation agreements with local news outlets for using their news content.

Similar measures were later adopted by other states, such as Canada, while the United Kingdom and the European Union, among others, are set to introduce similar initiatives soon. EFE

nbo/bks/ia

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