Today, On January 22, Google said that it will stop it search engine function in Australia if the government proceeds with the media code that would force it and Facebook Inc to pay local media companies for sharing their content.
Australia is going to pass the laws for the Big Tech Companies to negiate with local publishers and broadcasters for quality content. If they can't hit a deal, a govt appointed arbitrator will decide the price of content.
"Mel Silva" Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand, told in a senate committee that "The code's arbitration model with bias criteria presents unmanageable financial and operational risk for Google".
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"If this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google Search available in Australia".
Australia announced the laws last month after an investigation found Alphabet Inc owned Google and Facebook Inc are the big tech giant companies and holds the major power in the media industry. It's a situation posed an impact on well functioning democracy.
The United States this week asked the Govt. Of Australia to stop the laws and pursue a voluntary code instead.
Australia Institute's Centre for Responsible Technology's director Peter Lewis said Google's existence "is part of a pattern of threatening behaviour that is chilling for anyone who values our democracy".