Australia passes law requiring tech giants to pay for news content

Australia has passed new legislation requiring major technology platforms to pay for local news content distributed through their services.

Under the new law, companies such as Google and Meta will be required to strike commercial agreements with Australian news publishers to compensate them for the use of their content. If the platforms fail to reach such deals, they will instead be required to pay a levy calculated on their advertising revenue.

Why it matters

The legislation is part of a broader global effort by governments to ensure large technology companies fairly compensate news organizations for content that drives traffic and advertising revenue on their platforms. News publishers in multiple countries have long argued that tech companies profit from journalism without adequately paying those who produce it.

Australia's move follows earlier attempts to regulate the relationship between tech platforms and the news industry, and it could serve as a model for other countries weighing similar rules.