EU lawmakers move closer to forcing tech firms to compensate news publishers for AI training use
A draft report circulating in the European Parliament signals growing political support for requiring technology companies to pay publishers when journalistic content is used to train automated systems.
Lawmakers in the European Parliament are moving closer to endorsing new rules that would require technology companies to compensate news publishers for the use of journalistic material in training artificial intelligence systems. The proposal appears in a draft copyright report that forms part of broader efforts to update EU copyright enforcement as automated content generation becomes more widespread.
Copyright and AI training under scrutiny
At the centre of the debate is the growing use of large volumes of news articles and other journalistic content to train AI models. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) argue that existing copyright frameworks do not adequately address how automated systems extract, reproduce, or repurpose original reporting at scale.
According to the draft text, compensation obligations should be seen as a corrective measure to protect the economic sustainability of professional journalism, rather than as a voluntary or purely commercial arrangement between publishers and technology companies. Lawmakers warn that unchecked content extraction risks weakening the financial foundations of news organisations and, by extension, the public-interest role of journalism.
Expanding the scope beyond payment
The compromise amendments under discussion go beyond payment for training data. They also address the use of AI systems to generate deepfakes and other forms of synthetic content that can manipulate or distort journalistic work. MEPs argue that current legal tools are insufficient to protect journalists, publishers, and citizens when automated systems replicate reporting or alter it in misleading ways.
This broader scope reflects concern not only about economic harm but also about the integrity of information ecosystems, particularly in an environment where AI-generated content can spread rapidly and blur the line between authentic reporting and synthetic material.
Growing regulatory pressure on platforms
If adopted, the Parliament’s position would add further pressure on large technology firms already subject to tighter oversight under EU digital legislation, including the Digital Markets Act. Together, these measures underline a wider EU strategy to assert control over how data and content are used, and to reinforce protections for democratic processes and media pluralism.
The draft report does not yet mean that the rules are going to be endorsed, but it signals a clear direction of travel. As negotiations continue, the outcome is likely to shape how copyright, AI development, and the future of journalism intersect within the European Union.
