SYDNEY: If the government proceeds with a code forcing it and Facebook Inc to pay media companies for the right to use their content, Alphabet’s Google has to block its search engine in Australia.
The search giant had warned that its 19 million Australian users would face degraded search and YouTube experiences if the new code were enforced.
Australia is on course to pass laws that would make tech giants negotiate payments with local publishers and broadcasters for content included in search results or news feeds. If they cannot strike a deal, a government-appointed arbitrator will decide the price.
Mel Silva, managing director for Australia and New Zealand, told a senate committee that Coupled with the unmanageable financial and operational risk 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.
Silva made no mention of YouTube in prepared remarks, as the video service is expected to be exempted under revisions to the code last month.
Google and Facebook Inc granted an Australian local government news provider status, drawing questions about the internet giants’ efforts to curate news media.