European journalists' association sounds alarm over Mediahuis framework around AI training

European journalists’ association sounds alarm over Mediahuis framework around AI training

The VVJ is unhappy with Mediahuis’ decision to release journalistic work for AI purposes. This could harm freelancers par excellence, VVJ writes in an open letter.

The Flemish Association of Journalists (VVJ) has sent a spirited letter to Mediahuis, publisher of De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad and the Gazet van Antwerpen, among others. It denounces an adjustment in the publisher’s framework agreement, which releases journalistic work for AI training. According to VVJ, this decision was made without consulting journalists and their representatives.

VVJ is mainly concerned about the position of freelancers. The agreements do not specify which AI applications are involved and how ethical use of content is guaranteed.

The VVJ also fears that although the use of content for AI training provides “economic value” to the publisher, freelancers will not be compensated for it. Freelancers may therefore inadvertently contribute to “technologies that threaten their own work,” says VVJ in an open letter shared with our editors.

International call

VVJ’s appeal is receiving international support. Among others, the French-speaking journalists’ association in Belgium, as well as Dutch, German and European associations co-signed the letter.

The umbrella European journalists’ association EFJ posted a public statement on its website. The associations are asking Media House and other publishers to provide clear guidelines, appropriate compensation and an opt-out option.

AI vs copyright

The use of journalistic content for AI training is also causing a stir outside Europe. Developers of AI models foamed the Internet in search of information to train the AI models. This was rarely done with respect for copyright laws.