Macron urges YouTube to fund French content amid AI and industry upheaval
President Emmanuel Macron told the Lumière Summit that YouTube’s dominance should be harnessed to finance local French productions and that AI transparency is essential.
At the Lumière Summit co-chaired with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, President Emmanuel Macron warned that the entertainment sector is being reshaped by YouTube, TikTok, AI and media consolidation. He urged that YouTube be integrated into the same financing obligations as Netflix, Amazon and Disney to support French and European productions. Macron called for mandatory transparency on AI-generated content to safeguard authors’ rights and public confidence.
He also discussed the EU’s review of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, noting his support for commitments that increase European investment and protect local theaters. The president highlighted France’s tax-credit system and studio investments as pillars of the national cultural model, which he said must be defended against political extremes. Finally, he linked cultural policy to France’s soft power and job creation.
Why it matters
The stance could reshape how global platforms fund European media and set standards for AI transparency in creative industries.
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