HKFP joins the SPUR Coalition to defend original reporting against unpaid use by AI

The Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) has joined the SPUR Coalition, a group of media organizations committed to safeguarding original journalism from unauthorized use by AI firms. The SPUR Coalition, founded in February, includes well-known media outlets such as the BBC, Financial Times, Sky News, and the Guardian. HKFP is the first Hong Kong-based newsroom to join the coalition.

The move aims to defend and monetize local journalism in the age of generative AI. In 2023, HKFP's content was identified as the most cited news dataset in Google's AI training model. While HKFP's reporting is free to access, it is not free to reuse. As such, the newsroom has sought to take control over entities mining its archive of 30,000 news stories, which was developed over 11 years and funded primarily by reader donations exceeding HK$35 million.

Speaking at a recent event, A.G. Sulzberger, the publisher of The New York Times, criticized tech firms for "their hijacking of the public square" by "brazen theft of intellectual property." He noted that these companies repeatedly strip-mine news websites for content, repackaging it as their own and siphoning off the audiences and revenue that would otherwise benefit original news organizations.

HKFP's decision to join the SPUR Coalition aligns with the broader industry push for fair usage of journalistic content. The coalition, which is seeking to establish licensing regimes and technical safeguards, recognizes the critical role of original reporting in the digital age.