Google threatens to withdraw search engine from Australia

BBC ^ | Jan 22 | BBC

[RandFan]

Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia over the nation's attempt to make the tech giant share royalties with news publishers.

Australia is introducing a world-first law to make Google, Facebook and potentially other tech companies pay media outlets for their news content.

But the US firms have fought back, warning the law would make them withdraw some of their services.

Australian PM Scott Morrison said lawmakers would not yield to "threats".

Though Australia is far from Google's largest market, the proposed news code is seen as a possible global test case for how governments could seek to regulate big tech firms.

Australia's code would tie Google and Facebook to mediated negotiations with publishers over the value of news content, if no agreement could be reached first.

Google Australia managing director Mel Silva told a Senate hearing on Friday that the laws were "unworkable".

"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," she said.

But lawmakers challenged this, accusing Google of "blackmail" and bullying Australia for raising the reform.

"It's going to go worldwide. Are you going to pull out of every market, are you? Is this about stopping the precedence?" asked Senator Rex Patrick

[SaveFerris]

bkmk

[SaveFerris]

bkmk

[Libloather]

...to stop making Google Search available in Australia...

Gonna need a bigger internets.

[mo]

and this is a “problem” how?

[null and void]

No big loss!

[SaveFerris]

[and this is a “problem” how?]

Yeah, no kidding. The loss of both would mean very little to me.

Might have to move to Australia if they do it! /mostly kidding

[SmokingJoe]

I just love it.
Just love it.
Any country that takes down the Gestapo US tech giants should be cheered to high heaven.

Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia over the nation's attempt to make the tech giant share royalties with news publishers.

Do it. Australia will be far better off without Google. As will every country.

Australia is introducing a world-first law to make Google, Facebook and potentially other tech companies pay media outlets for their news content.

Excellent!

But the US firms have fought back, warning the law would make them withdraw some of their services.

Please do that. Every single service provided by Google can and will be swiftly supplied by local and other companies.

[SmokingJoe]

Its a big win for the freedom and independence of Australian patriots.

[Drago]

Go Duck Duck Go!

[mewzilla]

Bet the ChiComs put Google up to this...

[SmokingJoe]

Bet the ChiComs put Google up to this...

Um....no.
The Chinese themselves banned Google from China long ago. Good for them

[mewzilla]

The ChiComs have a real mad-on for Morrison...

[mewzilla]

Ummm, SJ, why do you think the ChiComs did that?

Hint: It’s not cuz they’re mad at Google.

[qwerty1234]

come on Australia, call their bluff...I believe that somehow Australia will survive even without google....

[SmokingJoe]

They banned Google way back in the day because they wanted to control what the Chinese people could have access to, plus they wanted their own Chinese search company, Baido to dominate the Chinese search engine market. They succeeded in both aims.
When you think about what the US tech giants including Google did in November's elections, the Chinese were exactly right.
Every single country in Africa and Asia should crack down hard on the US tech giants, especially in the run up to their elections, just like President Musevini did in Uganda just last week.

[mewzilla]

SJ, do you how Baidu got started?

[SmokingJoe]

Baidu was incorporated in January 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu. The Baidu search engine is currently the fourth largest website in the Alexa Internet rankings. Baidu has origins in RankDex, an earlier search engine developed by Robin Li in 1996, before he founded Baidu in 2000. Aug 25 2019
Founded: January 1, 2000; 20 years ago
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Industry: Internet
Revenue: CN¥102.3 billion (2018)

[RandFan]

I agree with you (as usual)

Hoping these tech giants get a taste of their own medicine

[mewzilla]

With material assistance from Silicon Valley.

Google isn’t an adversary.

It’s an ally.