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Meta has been pulled back into one of Europe’s biggest tech fights over who gets paid when news helps keep major online platforms running.
France’s Competition Authority, the Autorité de la concurrence, ordered the Facebook and Instagram owner to restart talks with the country’s media groups and submit a payment plan after publishers said they had gone unpaid, according to a new report by Reuters.
News outlets are trying to protect their reporting as tech companies use journalism across social feeds, search tools, and AI products.
Meta’s expired deals leave publishers unpaid
Meta had earlier agreements with French press groups DVP and APIG, which represent media outlets seeking payment for the use of their articles online.
Both deals expired in 2024. The outlets they represent have not been paid since 2025, even as their work continued to appear on the social media giant’s services.
Publishers accused Meta of trying to set its own fee formula while withholding information needed to assess whether the offer was fair.
France’s antitrust watchdog said Meta likely abused its market power. Meta disagreed with the decision but said it would participate in the process, adding that it remained “committed to reaching a fair deal with DVP and APIG.”
News payment rules enter the AI fight
Neighbouring rights are EU rules that let news publishers seek payment when digital services republish or display their content.
France has enforced those rules aggressively. In 2024, the Autorité de la concurrence fined Google €250 million after accusing the search giant of failing to meet earlier promises tied to publisher payments.
Publisher disputes are now moving into AI as well. Reuters linked the Meta case to fights over articles used on social media or for AI training, giving the order added urgency for news groups seeking better terms from major tech companies.
French outlets look to the next talks
A deal with Meta could give French publishers more than overdue payments. Better terms could help news groups seek clearer data and better compensation when their reporting is reused, ranked, summarised, or fed into AI tools.
Smaller outlets could gain the most. Many lack the power to negotiate with global tech companies on their own, so tougher enforcement could help them secure fairer terms through industry groups.
Meta has 15 days to submit details of its payment plan. French news outlets will be watching whether Europe’s platform-payment rules can still protect journalism as AI increases demand for their work.
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