The Seattle-based tech giant and four major EU news groups have announced their plan to work together to find a “authorization to pay” solution to use news content from “gatekeepers with dominant market power.”
Microsoft and publishers said they would “be inspired” by proposed legislation in Australia to force technology platforms to share revenue with news companies.
The legislation also includes an arbitration system to resolve disputes over fair news price.
Last week, the “Facebook” company banned Australians from accessing the news and sharing it on its platform, in response to government proposals, but the surprise move sparked violent public reactions and increased controversy over the strength of the social network.
In the meantime, “Google” has taken a different course, by stopping the payment deals it entered into with news organizations, after retreating from its initial threat to close its search engine to the Australians.
In the context, Thierry Britton, Commissioner of the European Union’s internal market, expressed his support for Australia, in the latest indication that Facebook’s move had backfired.
Breton told MEPs, “I think it is extremely unfortunate that a platform like this takes decisions to protest the laws of any country. It is the platforms that reconcile (their positions) with the regulators, not the other way around.”
He added that what is happening in Australia “highlights a situation that must change.”
Breton is leading the sweeping reform of the European Union’s digital regulations aimed at taming the power of major tech companies, amid growing concerns that (those companies’) logic is undermining democracy.
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