Italy balances fair pay, AI, and free speech under EU publisher directive

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) — The EU's press publisher rights directive holds both transformative potential and challenges in terms of its implementation in Italy, according to the legal director of that country's state-run news agency.

Speaking to Anadolu, ANSA's Giulia Li Greci addressed pressing questions about the implementation of the directive in Italy and its broader implications across the EU.

Li Greci emphasized its role in ensuring fair compensation for publishers, while navigating issues of freedom of expression and emerging technologies like AI.

She also stressed the directive's potential in strengthening publishers' roles in the digital age.

"The implementation will have a huge impact on publishers because the purpose is to guarantee the quality of information, recognizing compensation to publishers," she explained.

When asked about concerns over freedom of expression, Li Greci acknowledged the complexities.

"The problem would be the obligations that could have the service providers on one hand and probably on the other hand publishers," she noted, reflecting Italy's careful navigation of this issue.

Regarding the need for updates to the directive, she highlighted the importance of judicial insight.

"It would be interesting to know the point of view of the European Court of Justice before there is a judgment about this," she said, hinting at the evolving digital and legal landscapes.

Li Greci also addressed the challenges posed by emerging technologies like AI-generated content.

"The most important would be the data mining, and it would be interesting for publishers to understand how to protect by the using of instruments the content."