Overview
- Google and YouTube agreed to a R688 million, five‑year package funding national, community and vernacular outlets through content licensing, innovation grants and capacity‑building.
- The inquiry found platforms concentrated audience reach and ad revenue, with Google search and other gateways disadvantaging local publishers and reducing referral traffic.
- Google will add tools to surface local sources, share enhanced audience data, provide technical assistance, and adopt EU‑style adtech transparency measures including the removal of self‑preferencing.
- Other commitments include Meta ad credits, training and a South African media liaison office; YouTube Partner Programme access and SABC support; TikTok publisher tools; Microsoft expanding MSN contracts; and X being ordered to open all monetisation programmes locally with training.
- The report recommends a block exemption for collective bargaining and the creation of content‑moderation rules and a social media ombud, and it has been delivered to Minister Parks Tau for tabling in Parliament with enforcement and real‑world impact still uncertain.