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If tech firms fail to reach agreements with local publishers, they could face fines of up to 2.25% of their local revenue.
The Australian government has introduced a new bill that would require Google, Meta, and TikTok to pay fees to local news outlets for content that appears on their platforms. The bill is intended to support local media and journalism in the country.
The News Bargaining Incentive, first initiated in 2024, aims to end tech companies’ free use of news produced by local media outlets and ensure they pay for the content that fuels their platforms. Companies that fail to reach agreements with local news organizations could face fines of up to 2.25% of their local revenue, which could amount to millions of dollars.
"People are increasingly getting their news directly from Facebook, from TikTok and from Google, and we believe it's only fair that large digital platforms contribute to the hard work of journalism that enriches their feeds and that drives their revenue," Australia Communications Minister Anika Wells said.
Wells also suggested that tech firms strike deals with news outlets; otherwise, they may have to pay higher fines. The proposed levy would take effect on July 1. It would also apply to companies that hold a significant share of Australia's online search market and generate up to A$250 million ($179.3 million) in local revenue. The bill does not include artificial intelligence platforms, but it does apply to companies such as Google, Meta, and TikTok.
Executives from some of Australia’s largest media outlets called the latest initiative a “critical step toward securing the future of Australian news,” adding that “If digital platforms fail to pay for the use of the news content from which they profit, then journalism becomes unsustainable.”
Australia is not the first country to try to make tech firms pay for the news they use on their platforms. Google previously paid nearly $100 million to Canadian news outlets to be exempt from the Online News Act.
Via: Reuters
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Posted Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 7:28 am AEST (my time).
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