Australia’s centre-left government said on Thursday it planned new rules that would charge big tech firms millions of dollars if they did not pay Australian media companies for news hosted on their platforms.
The measure, applicable from January 1, will force firms like Meta and Google with an Australian-based revenue in excess of 250 million Australian dollars ($160m) to pay for content or face a hefty tax bill that could amount to millions.
Announcing the move, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said on Thursday that the rapid growth of digital platforms had “disrupted” the media landscape and was “threatening the viability of public interest journalism”.
“[Digital platforms] need to support access to quality journalism that informs and strengthens our democracy,” she said.
The new rules will shore up traditional media companies waging a battle for survival as their content is made freely available on platforms, wiping out precious advertising dollars. Amid the ongoing crisis, hundreds of Australian journalists have lost their jobs.
The Australian government indicated the parent companies of Google, Facebook and TikTok would be targeted by the tax, which will be waived if they voluntarily enter into commercial agreements with Australian media companies.
