Google says it will stop linking to New Zealand news if proposed payment for news content law is passed
-
Loading... - elijah sophia
- 04 Oct 2024
- 59 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Google has announced it will stop linking to New Zealand news content if a proposed law is passed that would require tech companies to pay for news articles displayed on their platforms. In a blog post on Friday, Google New Zealand Country Director Caroline Rainsford stated that if the law moves forward, Google would cease linking to news content through Google Search, Google News, or Discover in New Zealand and would also discontinue existing commercial agreements with local publishers.
This development comes in response to a bill that would force tech platforms to share revenue generated from New Zealand news content with the media outlets producing it. The law, introduced by the previous administration in 2023, had been opposed by the current government. However, a wave of newsroom job losses in New Zealand earlier this year prompted a shift in government stance, leading to reconsideration of the legislation.
Google's reaction mirrors similar strategies the company deployed in Australia and Canada when those countries introduced comparable laws. In her blog post, Rainsford emphasized that Google's licensing program has already contributed millions to nearly 50 local publications in New Zealand. The News Publishers' Association criticized Google's announcement, describing it as corporate pressure on the government, with Public Affairs Director Andrew Holden urging that laws to support democracy should not be subject to corporate threats.
The proposed law aims to redirect advertising revenue back to local news outlets to support a struggling media industry, which has seen significant job losses in recent years.
