BBC Demands Greater Credit in Apple & Google News | News Industry Update

BBC Files Antitrust Complaint Against Apple and Google News

The British Broadcasting Corporation has submitted a formal complaint to the U.K.’s competition regulator. This action concerns the practices of news aggregators, specifically Apple News and Google News, regarding the attribution of news content.

According to reports from Apple Insider, the BBC is requesting that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) mandate greater prominence in crediting original news sources. Any ruling by the CMA would initially apply to publications within the United Kingdom.

Concerns Over Value Attribution

The BBC argues that proper attribution is crucial for maintaining its public value. The broadcaster stated in its complaint that if audiences associate the value of news with the aggregators rather than the BBC itself, this diminishes the perceived worth of the BBC’s services.

This perceived value is especially significant for the BBC, as a substantial portion of its funding comes from a license fee paid by U.K. households. Visible and recognized work is therefore vital to sustaining public support for this funding model.

Recent Developments and AI Summaries

The complaint follows a recent pause in Apple’s AI-powered news summaries. This pause was implemented in response to concerns raised by the BBC and other publishers regarding inaccuracies in the automated summaries.

The BBC’s complaint highlights a growing tension between news organizations and aggregators. Publishers are seeking to ensure they receive adequate recognition for their journalistic work.

Potential Impact

• The CMA’s investigation could lead to changes in how Apple News and Google News display news content.
• Any alterations made by these aggregators are likely to impact publishers globally, not just those in the U.K.
• The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how news aggregators operate and attribute content in the future.

Maintaining clear source attribution is seen as essential for the sustainability of quality journalism. The BBC believes that proper credit is fundamental to preserving the value of its contributions to the public sphere.