Australia to make Facebook, Google pay for news (reuters.com)

Article summary

Australia is introducing a law that requires Facebook and Google to pay for news content. The law includes a royalty-style system, and the platforms must participate without discriminating between international and Australian news. If they choose to stop showing news on their platforms, they must block all news sites, not just Australian ones. The move is expected to have implications for the media and tech industries, both in Australia and globally.

Main themes

• Australia's media law
• tech giants and taxes
• media industry disruption
• government regulation
• online content and news
• global implications

What commenters say

• The law may hurt publishers more than it helps them, as it could lead to Google and Facebook boycotting Australian news sites or blocking all news content.
• Tech giants should pay taxes where they make their money, rather than using tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share.
• The media industry is entitled to compensation for its content, and the law is a necessary step to ensure its survival.
• The law sets a bad precedent and amounts to crony capitalism, as it arbitrarily forces Google and Facebook to support the news industry.
• The media industry has failed to adapt to the internet and is now seeking government intervention to stay afloat.
• The law may have unintended consequences, such as reducing the diversity of news sources or creating a two-tier system for online content.
• The move is part of a larger trend of governments seeking to regulate tech companies and protect traditional industries.
• The effectiveness of the law depends on how it is implemented and enforced, and whether other countries follow suit.