Google threatened to disable its search engine in Australia if it’s forced to pay local publishers for news, a dramatic escalation of a months-long standoff with the government.
‘World first’: Google threatens to disable search in Australia over proposed new law We don’t respond to threats,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison hits back. PUBLISHED BY
The search giant’s managing director
Mel Silva warned a senate committee in Canberra that Google would disable search in Australia if the government’s proposed legislation becomes law. Industry analysts believe the threat is not frivolous and Google may walk away from $4 billion in revenue as it’s fearful of Australia setting a global precedent.
Prime Minister
Scott Morrison said Australia would not respond to Google’s tantrum as news publishers fired back at suggestions that their content did not add value to the platforms.
Facebook Will Ensure Zero News Appear In Your Feed If The News Code Goes Through
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Facebook has reiterated a previous threat to get rid of news for Australian users, this time reminding Australian politicians that news is a “very small” proportion of the content that they show to users.
As part of the inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2020, Facebook’s APAC president for public policy Simon Milner and the Australian head of public policy Josh Machin both appeared in front of the Senate committee on Economics to talk about the proposed law.