On February 17, the Australian House of Representatives passed a piece of legislation called the News Media Bargaining Code. Under the code, Facebook and Google are required to pay Australian news outlets for displaying their content.
In response, Facebook stopped displaying news content from the country. What forced Facebook to take such a drastic step? Why is Google signing deals with news publishers to pay them for their content? What’s this new Australian news media bargain code about? Why do governments and media publishers want to rein in Big Tech? And most importantly, will this news media bargain code really help journalism or simply tilt the balance of power from Big Tech to Big Media?
Chitranshu Tewari answers all these questions and breaks down the code.
Recommended reading
Mat Stoller: Facebook: What is the Australian law? And why does FB keep getting caught for fraud?
Ben Thompson: Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code, Breaking Down the Code, Australia’s Fake News
James Temperton: Facebook’s Australia news ban is the best decision it’s ever made
Victor Pickard: Public investments for global news
Also Read: Stop Press: Platforms and content moderation. Who draws and defines the line?
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