South Africa: Google Algorithm Disadvantages Local News, Commission Finds
South Africa's Competition Commission concluded that Google's search algorithm unfairly disadvantages local news outlets compared to global media, contributing to the erosion of local journalism. The Commission recommended Google pay local news organizations between $16 to $27 million annually for 3 to 5 years and instructed other tech platforms to stop deprioritizing local news.
What happened
The South African Competition Commission completed a 16-month investigation into Google's search algorithm and found that it disproportionately ranks global news outlets while underrepresenting local and community-language media in search results and most-read sections.
The Commission concluded that Google's algorithm unfairly disadvantages local South African news outlets compared to global media, and that this imbalance has significantly contributed to the deterioration of South Africa's local media over the past 14 years.
Reported impact
According to the Commission, Google's algorithm changes enabled the company to generate between 800 and 900 million rand (approximately $43 to $49 million) in revenue from news content, while South African media lost between 8 and 11 million dollars in revenue.
The majority of South Africans rely on social media as their primary news source, according to the Commission's report.
Index analysis
The Commission's Media and Digital Platforms Market Investigation report found that Google's algorithm overrepresents global news media in search and top news sections while underrepresenting local-language and community media.
Governance controls
The Commission recommended that Google pay local news organizations between 300 and 500 million rand annually (approximately $16 to $27 million) over 3 to 5 years to address the harm caused. The Commission also instructed other technology companies including X, YouTube, TikTok, and Meta to stop deprioritizing local news.
The report is not final; affected parties have six weeks to submit their views before the Commission publishes a final report within 4 to 5 months.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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