Maltese creators must be paid by Facebook - Francis Zammit Dimech

“I have successfully worked to ensure that Maltese artists and creators are paid by YouTube for content they create and share online. I have worked to ensure fair remuneration of artists. I am now launching a new campaign to ensure that Maltese creators also monetise their videos uploaded on Facebook just like other European creators.” MEP Francis Zammit Dimech made these remarks after meeting with Facebook in Brussels to discuss the matter. Zammit Dimech was accompanied by Fabian Borg from Creators Malta.

Fabian Borg has launched a petition calling on Facebook to include Malta to the Ad Breaks Programme. Zammit Dimech has already signed the petition. Ad breaks are short ads that creators can include in eligible videos they produce to earn money. Ads are placed at natural breaks in content or at intervals the creators choose. A visit on Facebook confirms that the programme is not available in Malta.

Fabian Borg from Creators Malta said, “Following the successful inclusion of Malta in the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP), it is time to address Facebook and include Malta in the Facebook Ad Breaks Programme. Just like the YPP, the Facebook Ad Breaks allows local creators to monetise their videos uploaded on their Facebook Pages by displaying Facebook severed, targeted advertising along the videos. With a score of 87%, Eurostat ranks Malta in the second place among all EU member states with people using this social media platform and 75% of our enterprise makes use of Facebook for advertising. Despite our size, we surly matter and its time that Facebook treats Malta just like other European Member States”.

Zammit Dimech, who is a member of the Committee responsible for Media had organised a one year campaign which led for Maltese YouTubers to get paid. He said, “Irrespective of our size there are several creators in Malta and Gozo. I firmly believe that we can push forward the creative sector in Malta and create opportunities for young people. This is why I will be pushing forward this campaign,” Zammit Dimech added, “This will be another long campaign but I am determined to continue serving as the voice of artists and creators.”

MEP Zammit Dimech and Fabian Borg also held a meeting with Marco Pancini, YouTube European director for Policy at YouTube in Brussels. During this meeting Fabian Borg presented MEP Zammit Dimech and Marco Pacini with a memento to thank the MEP and YouTube respectively for their support to reach the important milestone of including Malta in the YPP.

The petition can be signed here.