Public broadcasting institutions like ARD and ZDF, alongside several media associations, have publicly called on politicians to establish safeguards against the exploitation of media content by artificial intelligence. In a joint statement, these bodies emphasized the need for fair regulatory frameworks if media companies are to continue ensuring a varied and democratic public sphere.
Specifically, the media providers are calling for changes in media, competition, and copyright law. They insist that publishing media outlets must retain complete authority over how AI providers and platforms utilize their content. This is particularly crucial regarding the use of editorial material for training AI, but also when these platforms develop competing, AI-driven services targeting media providers. The ultimate decision on whether and how AI providers can use journalistic material must rest with the publishing media companies themselves.
Furthermore, they demand the establishment of clear, enforceable German rights that would oblige AI platforms accessing or monetizing journalistic content to provide appropriate compensation to the media suppliers. This, they argue, requires mandatory disclosure regarding the exact usage and scope of the editorial content.
In the field of media law, ARD, ZDF, and various publishing houses hope for a robust defense of media diversity against the escalating market power held by digital AI gatekeepers. Large big tech platforms have already played an increasingly central role in collecting and presenting media content. The integration of generative AI only intensifies this trend.
While noting that the European Parliament’s “Report on Copyright and Generative Artificial Intelligence” adopted by a large majority in March, represents progress in the right direction, the German media stakeholders treat this report as a call to action directed at the EU Commission. Consequently, they have urged the German federal government to become actively involved in this legislative process.