Australia Plans Levy On Big Tech News Use

SYDENY: (Web Desk) – Australia has unveiled draft legislation that would require major tech companies such as Meta Platforms, Google, and TikTok to either strike voluntary agreements with local media outlets or face a new levy on their Australian revenue.

The proposed policy aims to ensure that digital platforms compensate news publishers for content that drives traffic and advertising revenue. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the companies would be given the opportunity to negotiate deals with Australian news organizations, but warned that refusal could trigger a mandatory charge of 2.25 percent of their local revenue.

Albanese stated that large digital platforms “cannot avoid their obligations” under Australia’s news media bargaining framework, emphasizing that journalism must have financial value attached to it. He argued that it is unfair for global corporations to profit from news content without compensating the publishers who produce it.

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The draft law specifically targets Meta, Google, and TikTok due to their large user bases and significant revenues in Australia. None of the companies immediately responded to requests for comment.

The proposal builds on earlier tensions between Canberra and tech firms, with Meta previously restricting access to news features in Australia and other countries in response to similar regulatory efforts. Google has also warned it may limit services if forced into mandatory payment structures.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said that as more Australians consume news through social media platforms, it is only fair that these companies contribute to supporting journalism that fuels their engagement and revenue.

The draft legislation is currently open for public consultation until May, after which it is expected to be introduced in parliament later this year.