Google threatens Australia with shutdowns over media law
Internet giant Alphabet is threatening Australia with the shutdown of its Google search engine if it is required to make payments to media companies for distributing their content. The U.S. company was reacting to the Australian government's plans for new media guidelines.
Under these plans, IT giants such as Alphabet or Facebook will have to pay local media companies money if they distribute their content. Under the bill, the Internet giants would negotiate a user fee with publishers and broadcasters. If the negotiations fail, a state-appointed arbitrator would set the fees.
"If this version of the media guidelines becomes law, then we will have no realistic option other than to make Google search inaccessible in Australia," Alphabet executive Mel Silva, who is responsible for Australia and New Zealand, told a Senate committee hearing Friday. (SDA)
