[16 November 2025] The Competition Commission has finalised its Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry, publishing its final report on 13 November 2025.
Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry Final Report (Non-Confidential)
In essence, this report sets out remedies and recommendations to address the market power of multinational digital platforms and the adverse effect of this market power on local media, particularly through capturing advertising revenue traditionally relied on by local news publishers.
The following annexures to the Report are highlighted:
MDPMI Final Report Annexure 4 Social Media
MDPMI Final Report Annexure 5 Generative Artificial Intelligence
MDPMI Final Report Annexure 7 Content Moderation for Social Media Platforms
MDPMI Final Report Annexure 8 Remedial Actions
See the Competition Commission website for more details and docuuments.
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[30 August 2025] The Competition Commission has been granted an extension until 28 November 2025 to complete its Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI) by publishing its final report together with proposed remedial actions & recommendations.
Notice of Extension of MDPMI to 28 November 2025
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[11 August 2025] One of the recommendations in the MDPMI Provisional Report relates to the development of mechanisms which are effective in combating disinformation and misinformation in South Africa.
17.6. A recommendation to the Department of Communications and Digital Technology (DCDT) to amend the ECTA to introduce liability for online platforms where they allow harmful content and amplify misleading content through their algorithms, or where misinformation reaches a certain threshold of users through follower accounts (e.g. over 10,000 followers). Additionally for the ECTA to be amended to introduce a provision requiring platforms to adopt a policy of pro-actively removing harmful content and not providing an algorithmic boost to misinformation, including a prohibition on promoted posts or ads that contain misinformation.
The DCDT is already considering creating an ombud scheme for complaints relating to audio and audiovisual media services in South Africa as set out in its draft Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and Online Safety White Paper.
The Competition Commission has now published a working paper setting out a detailed analysis of potential short-and-long-term paths to creating an ombud or similar mechanism.
The working paper is open for comment [date to be confirmed].
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[28 April 2025] An extension until 22 August 2025 has been granted to the Commission to finalise this inquiry and publish its final report.
Notice of extension granted for finalisation (17 April 2025)
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[25 February 2025] The Commission has published its Provisional Report for its Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI).
MDPMI Provisional Report (Non-Confidential)
MDPMI Provisional Report Findings & Recommendations
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[17 October 2023] The Statement of Issues for this Inquiry has been published, which can be found below along with the administrative timetable for how and when the process will unfold.
Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry: Statement of Issues
| Activity | Timelines | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Publication of Final Terms of Reference | 15 September 2023 | Completed |
| Publication of guidelines for participation | 15 September 2023 | Completed |
| Launch of the Inquiry | 17 October 2023 | Completed |
| Publication of Statement of Issues, inviting comments and submissions | 17 October 2023 | Completed |
| Issuing of first round questionnaires to stakeholders, Adtech and news media | 17-20 October 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders respond to first round questionnaires | 14 November 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders make submissions on the Statement of Issues | 14 November 2023 | Completed |
| Analysis of submissions received | 15 November – 24 November 2023 | Completed |
| Release of second round questionnaires to specific stakeholders | 27 November 2023 | Completed |
| Release of statement of further issues | 4 December 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders respond to second round questionnaires | 22 December 2023 | Completed |
| Stakeholders respond to Further Statement of Issues | 15 January 2024 | Completed |
| Analysis of submissions received | 8 January 2024 – 9 February 2024 | Completed |
| Preparation for public hearings | 12 February – 1 March 2024 | Pending |
| Virtual public hearings | 4 March – 22 March 2024 | Pending |
| Further information requests and/or questions of clarity from issues arising in the public hearings | 22 March 2024 | Pending |
| Response to requests for information and/or questions of clarity | 19 April 2024 | Pending |
| Submission of any expert reports | 19 April 2024 | Pending |
| Preparation of Provisional Report and individual stakeholder engagements (where required) | 22 April 2024 – 21 June 2024 | Pending |
| Issue Provisional Report for comments | 28 June 2024 | Pending |
| Stakeholders provide comments on provisional report | 8 August 2024 | Pending |
| Engagements with stakeholders on provisional report (where required) | August 2024 – September 2024 | Pending |
| Having regard to all comments received, prepare Final Report | October 2024 – January 2025 | Pending |
| Publication of Final Report | 27 January 2025 | Pending |
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[15 September 2023] The final Terms of Reference for this Inquiry have been published.
Final Terms of Reference Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry
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[14 July 2023] Submissions received in response to the Draft Terms of Reference of the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (“MDPMI“) can be seen below:
- Stakeholders of the MDPMI
- Microsoft
- SANEF, the Press Council, AIP, and Others
- National Association of Broadcasters
- Publishers’ Association of South Africa
- Centre for Data and Digital Communication School of Communication University of Johannesburg
- The Bundeskartellamt
- Remedy the adverse effect on competition
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[17 April 2023] The Competition Commission has launched a market inquiry into the Media and Digital Platforms Market (“MDPMI“) with the publication of draft terms of reference for public comment.
Following submissions received in response to the Online Intermediation Platforms Market Inquiry (OIPMI) the scope of the MDPMI will focus on the effects of the transition to digital news consumption and advertising on news publishers in the country.
The inquiry will examine the competitive impact of various digital platforms – including search engines, social media sites, news aggregators, video sharing platforms, and generative AI – on the news media sector in South Africa, with a broad focus on the dependency of the industry on these platforms.
Written submissions on these draft terms of reference are due by 16h00 on 20 April 2023 and can be submitted for the attention of Ms Noluthando Jokazi at mdpmi@compcom.co.za.
Draft Terms of Reference: Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry