They can't, but they can, for example, ask for a fee to read the article. They don't deny you reading it, but they don't have to give it to you for free either.
Either you share your data, so they can make money to operate the site, or you don't, but then the content is not free.
I expect some sites will choose this route.
Of course they can charge a fee. They should.
> Either you share your data, so they can make money to operate the site, or you don't, but then the content is not free.
No. My data is not a commodity exchange. The GDPR makes that VERY clear. I can not pay with my data. Full stop. There is money for that.
Most people then will choose the free version.
No I can not. I can pay with money. User data is not money.
Contracts don't make laws. Laws make laws. You cannot pay with your data.