South Africa takes action against tech giants such as Facebook, X, and Google

The country has penalized these corporations for tactics that inhibit the development of a competitive environment.

As reported by Bloomberg, South Africa has pointed out that companies such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook are engaging in anti-competitive practices that hurt local media companies.

The Competition Commission directed Google to pay regional media companies as much as 500 million rand ($27 million) each year for up to five years, claiming that its actions impede the news media’s ability to secure and monetize internet traffic.

The group also asked for a range of solutions from Meta, X, YouTube, and ByteDance Ltd.’s TikTok, including reducing partiality in favor of foreign media and supporting vernacular and community media, according to a statement released Monday.

“There are market features on digital platforms that distribute news-media content that impede, distort, or restrict competition,” the group announced while presenting the results of a 16-month probe into the actions of the tech platforms.

The Competition Commission also mentioned that the remedies, which are still preliminary, only apply to the mentioned corporations’ South African activities, as per the Bloomberg report.

Local media organizations have had difficulty staying afloat since most residents have “limited scope” to pay for news.

Additionally, public and community media do not have subscription models, according to the commission.

Very recently, Meta revealed plans to build the world’s longest subsea cable and accelerate AI innovation.

The company via a blog post mid-way into February dislcosed that the cable for its new Waterworth Project will span more than 50,000 kilometers, or around 31,000 miles, going past the Earth’s 24,901-mile circumference.

The Waterworth Project will connect several countries, including South Africa. Other locations include, the United States, India, Brazil, and more.

Someone from Meta told Business Insider that the project is expected to be completed by the end of this decade.