Google says it will withdraw Search from Australia if new media code becomes law
What you need to know
- Google is threatening to stop making Search available in Australia.
- Google argues that Australia's proposed News Media Bargaining Code would hurt small businesses, small publishers, and millions of Australian users if it became law.
- It has proposed technical amendments to the media code, which will allow it to pay publishers for value, without breaking Search.
Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia if the country's proposed News Media Bargaining Code becomes a law. The search giant's biggest problem with the proposed law is that it will be required to pay for links and snippets in Search. Google says the provision "would set an untenable precedent" for its business and that it is "not compatible with how search engines work."
In her opening statement to the Senate Economics Committee Inquiry, Mel Silva, Vice President of Google Australia and New Zealand, said:
Google has proposed technical amendments in three areas to address the problems that it has with the proposed law. The company says these amendments will allow it to pay publishers for value, without breaking Google Search.
Instead of paying for links and snippets, Google proposes the Code designate News Showcase to allow it to pay Australian news publications for value. The News Showcase program was launched last year and pays news publishers for their content in curating panels of news that appears on Google services. The search giant has already reached News Showcase agreements with seven publishers in Australia.
Responding to Google's threat, Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison told reporters:
Be an expert in 5 minutes
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android