Australia Threatens to Tax Meta, Google, TikTok Over News
Australia has unveiled draft legislation that could see tech giants Meta, Google, and TikTok hit with a compulsory levy unless they voluntarily agree to pay local news publishers for their content a bold move that raises the stakes in the global battle between big tech and traditional media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the three platforms would be given the opportunity to strike content deals with Australian news organisations. Failure to do so would trigger a levy of 2.25 percent of their Australian revenue. “Large digital platforms cannot avoid their obligations under the news media bargaining code,” Albanese told reporters.
The new draft laws designed to close a loophole in Australia’s existing media bargaining legislation, which previously allowed platforms to sidestep the levy simply by removing news from their services a tactic both Meta and Google have deployed in the past.
Tech Giants Hit Back
Meta was quick to push back, calling the proposal “nothing more than a digital services tax” and insisting that news organisations willingly post on their platforms. Google has similarly threatened to restrict its Australian search operations if compelled to pay publishers.
The Australian government is standing firm. Communications Minister Anika Wells argued it is only fair that platforms profiting from journalism-driven traffic contribute to the newsrooms producing it. A University of Canberra study found over half of Australians now rely on social media for news, making the case for Australia taxes Meta Google TikTok over news payment increasingly urgent.
The draft laws are now open for public consultation through May, with parliament introduction expected before year-end as the global media industry watches closely.”
