In Australia, a bill requiring tech giants to pay for news content has passed parliament. Under a deal between Labor and the Coalition, tech giants will be forced to make more deals with news publishers, with a special deal for the Australian Associated Press (AAP) newswire. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The News Bargaining Incentive (NBI), designed to force tech companies such as Facebook and TikTok to pay media outlets for the value they derive from news on their platforms, will be introduced into parliament today.
After negotiations with the opposition, Labor will amend the bill to require tech giants to make a minimum of eight deals with news publishers – up from the previous six. The design of the scheme will also mean big tech platforms can only offset a maximum of 25% of their exposure to the levy with each deal, which is to incentivise deals being made with a range of outlets.
Additionally, 5% of funds will be directed to AAP, the news wire service.
“The Albanese government is delivering for journalists and ensuring they get their fair share from digital platforms that benefit from Australian news,” said the communications minister, Anika Wells.
The assistant treasurer, Daniel Mulino, called it a “significant day for the future of Australian journalism.”
“We want to see deals between digital platforms and a diverse range of media organisations to ensure fair recompense for the use of content,” he said.
This law is a significant step towards ensuring fairness in Australia's news market. The fight against tech giants profiting from news content continues in many countries around the world, and Australia is becoming one of the leading countries in this area.
The passage of the bill could have a significant impact on media market players. Platforms like Facebook and TikTok are now required to pay for the use of Australian news. These measures are aimed at supporting local journalism and ensuring balance in the information space.
It is worth noting that this bill is not being proposed for the first time. Previously, the Australian government had already held negotiations with tech companies, demanding they pay for news content. Now this requirement is enshrined in law.
Under the new rules, tech companies must meet certain requirements when making deals with news publishers. Specifically, they must make deals with at least eight different outlets, and each deal can cover no more than 25% of their levy exposure. These measures are aimed at supporting a diverse range of media organisations.
Additionally, 5% of funds will be allocated to the AAP agency. This agency, as an Australian news agency, plays an important role in disseminating important news across the country.
Overall, the passage of this bill is a significant step towards ensuring fairness in Australia's media market. The fight against tech giants profiting from news content continues in many countries around the world, and Australia is becoming one of the leading countries in this area.