On April 15, 2021 Director, Taylor Owen and Professor Anya Schiffrin, Director of the Technology, Media, and Communications at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, led a discussion with Australia’s Rod Sims, Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the architect of the controversial Australian News Media Code which requires Google and Facebook to pay for news.

The panel of five global competition ministers including Australia, France, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Canada’s lead on the file asked: Can the Code be replicated in other countries? Should it be? How should it be adapted to ensure the Code helps independent news and not just large media houses? Is there a danger of capture if Google and Facebook start handing out large amounts of money to journalism outlets around the world?

Joining this discussion were Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, Rod Sims, Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, Tembinkosi Bonakele, South Africa’s Competition Commissioner, Isabelle de Silva, President of the French Competition Authority and Canada’s Owen Ripley, Director General, Broadcasting Copyright and Creative Marketplace.

Watch the recording by clicking on the image above.