Google is one of the most recognizable names in technology around the globe. However, there is a change that could mean Google will no longer be available to the millions of Australians that search with the engine everyday.
Google has threatened to remove Australian's access to the search engine, and Facebook has followed suit, in response to a code that could be passed in the country. 19 million people in the country down under use Google daily to search for video games, news, weather, and more, and 17 million use Facebook. But this could all come to an end if the legislation currently on the desks of Australian politicians comes to pass.
The code would force websites like Google and Facebook to pay news media companies for linking their content on the sites. The law was designed to compensate news companies for the loss of revenue that Google and Facebook take for linking these websites; it's estimated that about 53% of all linking revenue goes to Google, and 28% to Facebook, leaving media companies without much left to fund journalist and newsrooms needed to investigate and create original news articles. The concept underlying this new law is basically that Google and Facebook would be much less useful and less profitable if there was no news to search for or in user's feeds.
Google's revenue from a combination of searches and click revenue made it about $4.3 billion USD in 2020, and Facebook a little less than $1 billion USD, even after facing litigation for spreading fake news and being investigated for blocking Oculus competition. All the while, journalists are leaving in droves and "media outlets [are] going broke and closing" down. "The code aims to ensure that news media businesses are fairly remunerated for the content they generate, helping to sustain public interest journalism in Australia."
But on Friday, Google told the Australian government that it would remove the whole county's ability to access Google to search for where to buy PS5s and toilet paper, among other things. Facebook also added that Australia as a whole would no longer have access to news feeds through the social media website. Australian managing director for Google, Mel Silva, stated:
"The principle of unrestricted linking between websites is fundamental to search and 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. Withdrawing our services from Australia is the last thing that Google want to have happen, especially when there is another way forward."
Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister, responded that the government would not be persuaded this way. "Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That’s done in our parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia and people who want to work with that, in Australia, you’re very welcome. But we don’t respond to threats."
“Today’s egregious threats show Google has the body of behemoth, but the brain of brat,” said Chris Cooper, the executive director of Reset Australia. This organization lobbies in Australia for regulations against big tech companies.
The code has been up for debate in Australia for some time. This legislation is unique to Australia, which has had its share of distinctive laws to attempt to protect its citizens from big tech companies. For example, Australia also passed a law last year to require advisory labels for video games that have microtransactions.
Source: IGN, TheGuardian