Australia will require Facebook and Google to pay the media outlets that produce their content for the use of news content. The legislation, which will be sent to parliament tomorrow, would be the first of its kind in the world if passed.
AFP reports that Australian authorities plan to make it mandatory for these companies to pay for news content, or face fines of millions of dollars. This is one of the most aggressive ways the Australian authorities are using to check the power of these several American giants.
Australia’s Finance Minister Josh Frydenberg said the new rules will be sent to Parliament tomorrow and are expected to take effect next year. It’s a huge reform, and it’s a global first,” he said. The whole world is watching what’s happening in Australia.”
The new media regulations apply to Facebook’s News Feed and Google’s search system.
The companies will be required to compensate Australian news media, including the ABC and SBS, which were initially excluded from the program.
Frydenberg said the parties would still be encouraged to negotiate a commercial agreement, but if an agreement could not be reached, the matter would be referred to binding arbitration.
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