The News Media Alliance on Aug. 20 submitted comments to the FTC
for an upcoming series of public hearings on “whether broad-based changes in
the economy, evolving business practices, new technologies, or international
developments might require adjustments to competition and consumer protection
enforcement law, enforcement priorities, and policy.”
The
hearings will begin in September 2018 and are expected to continue through
January 2019. They will consist of 15 to 20 public sessions.
According
to the News Media Alliance, its comments explain in detail how the conduct of
major tech platforms, specifically Facebook and Google, impacts journalism and
harms consumers.
“For nearly
a decade, a couple of technology giants — namely, Facebook and Google — have
exerted unprecedented influence and control over the U.S. news industry. These tech
giants, as well as others, now control both the distribution and monetization
of online news content,” wrote alliance President David Chavern on
the organization’s website.
“Further
erosion of quality news would have dire consequences for society. This is why
we believe the FTC should scrutinize potentially anticompetitive conduct by the
platforms,” Chavern wrote.
Washington-based
News Media Alliance members represent nearly 2,000 diverse news organizations
in the U.S. ,
according to the group.
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