France orders Meta to negotiate with press groups over content payments after antitrust ruling
The French competition authority has ordered Meta to resume talks with media organizations over neighbouring rights fees, finding its practices likely constitute an abuse of dominance.
The order
France's competition authority ruled on Wednesday that Meta must negotiate in good faith with French press publishers over payments for the use of their content on Facebook and Instagram. The authority found that Meta's methods of calculating fees and its refusal to share data for alternative methodologies likely amount to an abuse of its dominant position. Meta has 15 days to submit a detailed payment plan.
We are not dealing with a situation where there is a refusal to negotiate. Rather, the negotiation is taking place under conditions where there is a refusal to consider an alternative methodology or to share the data required for that alternative methodology.
Background
The case stems from complaints filed in 2025 by two collective management organizations: the Alliance de la presse d'information générale (APIG), representing nearly 300 national and local dailies, and Droits voisins de la presse (DVP), which collects and distributes neighbouring rights for 900 publications and news agencies including AFP. Previous agreements between Meta and the two bodies expired at the end of 2024 for DVP and in early 2025 for APIG. Since then, French media have received no payments, even though their content continues to appear on Meta's platforms.
- DVP agreement with Meta expires.
- APIG agreement with Meta expires.
- DVP and APIG file complaints with the competition authority.
- Authority orders Meta to negotiate in good faith and submit a payment plan within 15 days.
- Deadline for Meta to present its payment proposal.
Reactions
DVP called the decision a strong signal, while its president Jean-Marie Cavada stressed that the order does not prejudge the full investigation. APIG president Marc Feuillée, who is also director general of Le Figaro, welcomed the ruling, saying the authority had forcefully reminded that neighbouring rights apply to Meta as they do to other platforms. Meta said it disagreed with the decision but would participate constructively in the process.
The competition authority forcefully reminds us: neighbouring rights apply to Meta as to other platforms and no one can avoid a transparent and fair negotiation with publishers.
We do not agree with these decisions, but we will participate constructively in this process.
What's next
The authority will now examine the case on its merits, with a final decision not expected for several months. The immediate obligation for Meta is to present its payment proposal within 15 days. The case is part of a broader wave of litigation across Europe as publishers seek remuneration from tech companies for the digital use of their content, both on social media and for AI training.
