Canada has announced plans to follow Australia in making Big Techs – Google and Facebook pay publishers for news content. While Google reached an agreement with publishers for its News Showcase platform, Facebook outrightly banned the sharing of news on its platform further infuriating the Australian Government.
Australia has argued that even though these huge platforms may not be stealing content from publishers, they may use their unfair advantage to the detriment of news publishers. The development is the reason why Australia, Britain and the EU are considering putting in regulatory measures to ensure the interests of publishers.
Angela Mills Wade, the Executive Director of European Publishers Council shared as much stating that the big companies will be monitored closely. Read her statement in part below:
Given that Google and Facebook have been undermining the scope of the publishers’ right it is clear that regulatory measures are needed, especially the final arbitration mechanism,” said Angela Mills Wade. “Otherwise the majority of publishers won’t have the negotiating power to reach agreements.”
The arrangement tagged the News Media Bargaining Code will ensure businesses are paid fairly.