12:08 PM EST, 02/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with a statement from Google ( GOOG ) in fourth and fifth paragraphs.)

Alphabet's (GOOG) Google ( GOOG ), Meta Platforms ( META ) and other technology companies have been accused by South Africa's Competition Commission of anti-competitive practices against the country's local media, according to a statement from the commission Monday.

At the conclusion of a 16-month inquiry, the commission recommended that Google ( GOOG ) compensate South Africa news media 300 million to 500 million rand ($16.3 million to $27.2 million) annually for three to five years, while executing changes to search "that will sustainably create shared value with the media through increases in referral traffic." It also suggested that Meta and X stop deprioritizing news on their user feeds.

The companies and the public have six weeks to submit responses before the report is finalized, according to the statement.

Google ( GOOG ) said in a statement to MT Newswires that it will "review today's report in detail but we disagree with the claim that Google ( GOOG ) has taken disproportionate value from publishers."

"In 2023, our products like Google Search and News generated an estimated [350 million rand] in referral traffic value for South African publishers while we earned less than [19 million rand] from ads displayed next to news queries. Alongside this, we have invested in products, training and partnerships to support publishers and the broader news ecosystem, and will continue to do so," the statement said.

Meta did not immediate reply to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

Price: 182.19, Change: +0.61, Percent Change: +0.34