Google has officially responded to the Competition Commission’s Provisional Report on the Media & Digital Platforms Market Inquiry, published earlier this year.
The Commission’s inquiry raised concerns about how digital platforms (particularly dominant players like Google) affect the sustainability of South African journalism.
Google vs SA journalism
At the heart of the issue: ad revenue, platform power, and how news gets surfaced (or buried) online.
The inquiry, launched in 2021, is South Africa’s attempt to untangle the power imbalance between global tech giants and local media houses.
The Provisional Report, released in February 2025, proposed a range of remedies, including financial contributions from digital platforms to support local news.
In the newly released non-confidential version of its submission, Google outlines its position: they’re not opposed to collaboration, but they’re pushing back on parts of the Commission’s proposal.
Google’s key arguments
- They’re already investing: Google says it has launched training, innovation funds, and partnerships to support South African publishers, including News Lab, News Showcase, and AdSense support.
- They want a balanced solution: In their own words, “A sustainable news ecosystem requires broad-based solutions that support all publishers, not just a select few.”
- They’re warning against overreach: Google argues that some of the proposed remedies could unintentionally hurt smaller or emerging publishers by reinforcing legacy players.
So what happens now?
The Commission will now consider Google’s (and others’) feedback before issuing a final report.
Google, for its part, says it will continue engaging with both regulators and publishers to shape outcomes that balance innovation with industry support.
“We look forward to working with stakeholders to get this right for the future of South African news,” the company said.
You can read Google’s full blog response here.
