Regulate Big Tech to save media in the region

The ubiquity of social media has changed many industries, altered the way people consume news and views, and the way we live. Digital media and big technology companies are now threatening the very existence of media organisations.

Journalism has been affected, and the media industry the world over is reinventing and restructuring its strategy, while erecting new legal frameworks to protect itself. News organisations are formulating policies to work together and ensure that the freedom of Press is not compromised and credibility of news is protected. Yet, we, in the Arab world, are stuck in the past.

I have highlighted the state of media in previous articles and listed measures that can be taken to ensure the financial viability of the sector. However, it requires media outlets to join hands and collaborate with journalist associations to come up with solutions. Government support is also vital for the media to thrive in the digital age, and make profits. We need a level playing field and regulation of Internet companies and Big Tech.

At present, there is a gap in communication between departments of media institutions — which is primarily why they have not been able to keep pace with the changing demand in news and the ad market.

Arab media does not have any regulations and restrictions in place to protect its intellectual property. This could lead to blatant infringements by websites and search engines with respect to content. Issues regarding the use of names of media outlets across social networking sites have often been raised. Content from newspapers is freely shared on websites without due credit. It’s called curation, and this is damaging the news process.

Those with an interest in media can easily spot the infringements by different media companies. Many resort to republishing articles of columnists commissioned by other newspapers on their social media platforms and websites without paying for publishing rights.

Those companies piggyback on other companies and lay their claims to fame without spending a penny. This should not be allowed in the Arab media or any other media for that matter. A fee for the content posted on social media websites and search engines should solve the problem. The changing virtual landscape and usage of content online has necessitated action by the Press syndicates to take a strong stand to protect newspapers. Some efforts have been successful, especially in countries that have levied a tax on search engines and social media platforms. This is then pumped back into the local Press.

A case in point is the media organisations of Europe demanding a legal framework to regulate content online. Meanwhile, intellectual property rights have suffered immensely in our region because of the posting of original content on social media for free. Once media companies put it put there, it is open for curation. Experts, too, have failed to flag such issues in conferences or shown any inclination to address them.

So, how can we protect our rights from the giant technology companies who are also into media? Some may consider claiming rights a kind of overstatement. But the fact is we need to wake up, we need to start thinking, we need to bring the issue to the talking table. I think it is time we draw up an organisational framework that can protect media organisations. We must move towards a sophisticated system to safeguard IP rights of the media in the region before it’s too late. If not, we won’t know the difference between Big Tech and the free Press.

Those with an interest in media can very well spot the infringements being made by media companies as they republish articles of columnists commissioned by other newspapers