Google, Meta, and TikTok are taking the Flemish Government to court over a decree which states that the video sharing platforms should invest in producing content in the local region.
New Flemish Media Minister Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA) confirmed on Friday that the three tech companies will be challenging a Flemish incentive scheme in the Constitutional Court.
The current scheme mandates that content distributors, such as Proximus and Telenet, must reinvest a share of their turnover from Flemish customers into producing Flemish films and television series. This may be done either by directly contributing to the production of content in Flanders, or making a financial contribution to the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF).
From 2025, video platforms such as YouTube (Google), TikTok and Instagram will also be required to contribute. Former Flemish Media Minister Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) argued that the incentive scheme would lead to "an unprecedented increase in investment in local productions."
The new minister has now been informed that three companies have decided to contest the decree in the Constitutional Court. "With this new regulation, Flanders is the first in Europe to demand a contribution from video platform services," said Van Achter.
"Due to the precedent-setting potential for similar legislation in other EU Member States, Google, Meta and TikTok have taken the case to the Constitutional Court. The stakes in this matter are significant," she added.
The minister reaffirmed her commitment to the project and said that she will defend it in the Constitutional Court.
