Media: Publishers want to defend their content against AI

German-speaking publishers want to defend journalistic content against exploitation by artificial intelligence (AI) platforms like ChatGPT. They also welcome the strengthening of indirect aid to the press, which is well underway in Parliament.

“We will defend the Swiss media position, also in the face of AI attacks against our content,” declared Thursday the president of the association of German-speaking publishers Schweizer Medien (VSM), Andrea Masüger, during the traditional meeting of the Epiphany in Zurich. He called for a “fair” agreement on the matter.

He recalled that such compensation was being defined in Switzerland on the question of neighboring rights, a standard comparable to copyright which would allow publishers to claim money from platforms like Google or Facebook for the use of their contents. The Federal Council must present a message by summer.

700 positions eliminated

Andrea Masüger was concerned about the crisis facing the press in Switzerland, with some 700 jobs lost in the sector last year. Politics has fortunately “heard” the concerns of publishers: during the last session in December, Parliament agreed on an increase in indirect aid, which will make it possible to reduce the costs of distributing newspapers through the Job.

Grison brushed off criticism from some politicians that the media have so far “sleeped” when it comes to digital transformation. Considerable sums have been invested in this area, including by smaller players, he said. The Somedia group, in which Mr. Masüger is active, has thus invested double the sums received from the Confederation for indirect aid in the digital shift, underlined the president of the VSM.

Don’t do like Musk and Zuckerberg

Andrea Masüger also called on publishers not to follow the example of internet bosses like Elon Musk (X) or Mark Zuckerberg (Meta/Facebook), who are removing the fact-checking function. ) on their platforms, with the risk of increasing false information and hateful content. “On the other hand, we must strengthen the media”, which are essential in a democracy, called on the president of the publishers.

The latter also invited national companies to “assume their responsibilities”. Their advertising spending should remain in Switzerland, instead of going to international platforms.