Google could be required to pay up to 500 million rand ($27.29 million) a year in compensation to South African media outlets after the country’s competition watchdog found the tech giant guilty of anti-competitive practices, while Meta and X also face fines. In provisional findings from a probe into market activities, released on Monday, South Africa’s Competition Commission said that Google’s algorithm distorts competition between news media organisations insofar as it overrepresents global news media in South Africa for search and top stories and underrepresents local language and community media. “This inequity has materially contributed to the erosion of the media in South Africa over the past 14 years and will continue to do so unless remedied,” the watchdog’s report said.Read More
