Big Tech Appeals to Users over the Australian Media Dispute
Both Facebook and Google s strategies have involved a mixture of user-focused advertising, political lobbying, and even threats to pull services from Australia.
Over the past few weeks, Google and Facebook have engaged in desperate attempts to avoid regulation under the Australian government’s proposed mandatory news media bargaining code.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg evenappealed to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher personally last week, hoping to shift the government’s hard stance.
Both platforms’ strategies have involved a mixture of user-focused advertising, political lobbying, and even threats to pull services from Australia.
Google seeks alternative to Australia media rules mobileworldlive.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mobileworldlive.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault is leading a similar push from his government and has previously tweeted Canada stands in solidarity with our Australian partners .
Microsoft Backs Australiaâs News Media Bargaining Code
Microsoft has this week come out in support of Australia’s news media bargaining code to level the playing field between the news media industry and the tech giants, saying news publishers are “vital to the country’s democracy.”
The code is widely supported by publishers and bodies including the News Media Association which is urging the UK Government to legislate quickly to give statutory backing to a new regime to address the imbalance between news media and the platforms.
In a statement Microsoft president Brad Smith said the company fully supported the code which “reasonably attempts” to address the bargaining power imbalance between digital platforms and Australian news businesses.