Australia is planning to introduce a News Media Bargaining Act that would require social media such as Google (pictured) and Facebook to pay news publishers for displaying news content. This has been a long-standing demand of the Australian media.
In response to Australia is promoting legislation to force technology companies Google (Google) and Facebook (Facebook) to pay media organizations for news content, Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) on February 11 expressed support for Australia, and lobbying the United States, the European Union and other follow-up.
If Australia passes this legislation, Google and Facebook are threatening to cut off important services in Australia.
Microsoft President Brad Smith pointed out in a statement that Microsoft fully supports Australia’s bill to Google, Facebook and other technology companies to compensate news publishers for the news content posted on their platforms.
Smith said in a blog posting: “This issue has sparked an unusual divide in the technology community. Some are asking whether Microsoft would support similar proposals in the United States, Canada, the European Union and other countries.”
“Short answer: yes,” he noted. “The ultimate question is what kind of service do we want the tech community and independent news media to do for everyone.”
Smith said online platforms that have not paid the news media to date should now act to incentivize the independent news media to “get to the heart of our democratic freedoms.
“The United States should not oppose Australia’s creative proposal. This Australian proposal is a call for technology giants to support press freedom as a way to strengthen democracy.”
“Instead, the United States should follow Australia’s proposal.”
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