So led Peter Lewis in the Guardian last week, in reference to Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code. For those who haven’t been following along, the Australian Government has proposed new…
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Google has backflipped on plans to halt the local launch of its news product in an attempt to prove to the federal government it is a better way of paying media companies than newly proposed laws.
The change of heart by the $US1.8 trillion ($2.3 trillion) search advertising giant to roll out Google News Showcase as early as February comes as competition tsar Rod Sims said the tech giant only did deals with news outlets in France after intervention from the regulator.
Google boss Melanie Silva presented at a Senate hearing last Friday on the news media bargaining code.
Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Code payment impact on journalist roles uncertain says media
January 25, 2021 10:47
Australian media organisations AAP, News Corp, Nine, SBS, ABC and Guardian Australia have put forward respective cases for the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code to the economic legislative senate committee.
When asked how many additional journalists the code would assist in employing across the media outlets, the response was uncertain from all.
Pressed for further details by the committee, Nine said that it would be used to sustain its journalistic business, rather than go to shareholder dividends or operational overheads.
The ABC said additional revenue accrued under the code would be used to provide additional resources to regional journalism. The ABC has 48 regional outlets across the country.
Chairman Rod Sims said Google’s market dominance had created a “take it or leave” bargaining environment but competition could encourage smaller search engines to do deals with media companies.
Google Escalates Dispute With Australia by Threatening Search Shutdown
3 Google Escalates Dispute With Australia by Threatening Search Shutdown
Fight is over a proposed law requiring tech giants to pay publishers for news; we don t respond to threats, prime minister says
published : 23 Jan 2021 at 04:00
3 The Google logo in Brussels. Google threatened yesterday to block Australian users from accessing its search service.
Google threatened to shut down its search engine in Australia if a proposed law requiring tech giants to pay publishers for news isn t changed.
The warning escalates the long-running battle pitting the Alphabet Inc. unit and Facebook Inc. against the Australian government, whose efforts to compel tech companies to pay publishers is being widely watched globally and could offer a model for other countries. Last year, Facebook said it would restrict Australian users from sharing news