South Africa’s Competition Commission announced on Tuesday that it will launch an investigation into whether digital platforms like Meta and Google have been engaging in unfair competition with news publishers. The investigation will primarily focus on market features that may distort competition for advertising revenue between news media organizations and digital platforms. Additionally, it will examine if imbalances in bargaining power have had an impact on this competition. Commissioner Doris Tshepe highlighted the significance of the inquiry, stating that it coincides with the shift of news consumption to online platforms and the decline of print and broadcast advertising revenue. She emphasized the urgency to promote diversity in news and public interest journalism in the changing media landscape. James Hodge, Chief Economist and Acting Deputy Commissioner, emphasized that media consumers increasingly rely on video-sharing platforms, news aggregators, and social media for news access and revenue. The investigation will encompass various digital entities, including general search engines like Google and Bing, social media platforms like Meta and X, news aggregation platforms, video sharing platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, and ad networks like Google Ads. It will also scrutinize the use of generative artificial intelligence, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and its utilization of original news content. This investigation aims to ensure fair competition and support diversity in the news industry amidst the evolving digital landscape.