07-31-2020, 09:07 PM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-53604477
The Australian government has unveiled its plan to force tech giants such as Google and Facebook to pay news outlets for their content.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the "world-leading" draft code of conduct aimed to give publishers "a level playing field to ensure a fair go".
Many news outlets have shut or shed jobs this year amid falling profits.
Facebook and Google strongly oppose the proposal, even suggesting they could walk away from Australia's news market.
Mr Frydenberg said the code of conduct - drafted by Australia's competition regulator - would be debated by parliament.
I can understand the rationale for this; however, similar laws in other countries have backfired badly in the past. For example, the one in Spain caused Google News to close its service there - and the one in Germany eventually led to Google being given an exception, at the request of the news outlets (which was really the worst of both worlds, because Google's smaller competitors didn't get that exception ). How will this law be any different?
(Also, how is this going to affect smaller businesses and personal websites... including those not based in Australia that operate there ?)
The Australian government has unveiled its plan to force tech giants such as Google and Facebook to pay news outlets for their content.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the "world-leading" draft code of conduct aimed to give publishers "a level playing field to ensure a fair go".
Many news outlets have shut or shed jobs this year amid falling profits.
Facebook and Google strongly oppose the proposal, even suggesting they could walk away from Australia's news market.
Mr Frydenberg said the code of conduct - drafted by Australia's competition regulator - would be debated by parliament.
I can understand the rationale for this; however, similar laws in other countries have backfired badly in the past. For example, the one in Spain caused Google News to close its service there - and the one in Germany eventually led to Google being given an exception, at the request of the news outlets (which was really the worst of both worlds, because Google's smaller competitors didn't get that exception ). How will this law be any different?
(Also, how is this going to affect smaller businesses and personal websites... including those not based in Australia that operate there ?)