Paris Court Orders Meta to Share News Usage Data with Publishers
Paris Court of Appeal rejects Meta's appeals, orders data sharing with French news publishers.
Why it matters: The ruling challenges Meta's control over data linked to content licensing and revenue sharing. It may shift how tech giants negotiate royalties internationally.
- On October 29, 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed Meta's appeals against interim measures imposed by French regulators.
- Court found Meta's methods for calculating payments to publishers under 'neighboring rights' may breach European and French competition laws.
- Meta must negotiate in good faith with French press, share revenue and usage data, and avoid degrading news display.
- Meta plans to comply and continue negotiations but is assessing next legal steps according to its spokesperson.
On October 29, 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal upheld interim measures requiring Meta Platforms to share detailed information with French news publishers about how protected content is used on its social media platforms. The court dismissed Meta's appeals against these measures initially imposed by the French competition regulator in July 2026.
The court's decision emphasized that Meta's approach to determining payments under the so-called 'neighboring rights'—which cover remuneration owed to press publishers for digital use of their content—may constitute an abuse of Meta's dominant market position. Such abuse would violate both European and French competition laws, as the court stated in its official ruling.
These interim measures obligate Meta to negotiate in good faith with press organizations, provide transparent data regarding revenue and usage metrics tied to news content on its platforms, and ensure that the display of press content is not degraded. Meta had appealed the regulator's requirements in August 2026 but was rejected by the Paris Court of Appeal.
A Meta spokesperson said the company will continue to comply with the interim measures and engage in good faith negotiations with publishers, while assessing potential next steps. This latest ruling marks a key development in the ongoing dispute over 'neighboring rights,' highlighting regulatory pressure on tech giants to be more transparent and fair in content licensing and revenue sharing with news organizations.
By the numbers:
- October 29, 2026 — date Paris Court of Appeal rejected Meta's appeals
- July 2026 — when French competition regulator issued interim measures
- August 2026 — when Meta appealed those interim measures