Australia Proposes New Rules to Make Big Tech Pay for News Content
Australia is set to introduce new regulations aimed at incentivizing major tech companies to pay local media outlets for news content featured on their platforms, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones announced on Thursday.
Dubbed the “News Bargaining Initiative,” the proposed rules target global tech giants like Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook) and Google. The initiative seeks to compel these companies to negotiate payment agreements with Australian media organizations or risk facing hefty financial penalties.
“The News Bargaining Initiative will create a financial incentive for agreement-making between digital platforms and news media businesses in Australia,” Jones said during a press conference.
Who Will Be Affected?
The new regulations will apply to significant social media platforms and search engines generating over 250 million Australian dollars (approximately $160 million USD) in Australian-based revenue. Companies that voluntarily enter into commercial agreements with local media organizations will be exempt from the proposed charges.
A Continuation of Previous Efforts
In 2021, Australia introduced groundbreaking laws requiring US tech companies like Google and Meta to compensate media companies for links that drive traffic and advertising revenue to their platforms. This latest move builds on those efforts, aiming to address ongoing disputes and ensure fair compensation for Australian media outlets.
Industry Pushback
Meta, which previously reached agreements with several Australian media organizations, including News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, expressed concerns about the new proposal.
“We agree with the government that the current law is flawed and continue to have concerns about charging one industry to subsidize another,” a Meta spokesperson said following Jones’ announcement.
Meta also argued that the proposal overlooks how its platforms function, noting that most users do not primarily visit their platforms for news content. Additionally, the company emphasized that news publishers voluntarily post content on its platforms because they derive value from the exposure.
Despite having struck deals with Australian media firms, Meta has stated it will not renew these agreements beyond 2024.
The Road Ahead
As Australia pushes forward with the News Bargaining Initiative, the proposal highlights the growing global debate about the responsibility of tech platforms to compensate news publishers. Whether this approach will achieve a balance between the interests of digital platforms and media companies remains to be seen.
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