This Month
ACCC knows Google and Facebook's real Australian revenue
Chairman Rod Sims says tech giants will not be able to use tax minimisation techniques to avoid paying fines in the event of breaching a new code of conduct.
- Natasha Gillezeau and Max Mason
July
All news or no news for Google, Facebook under new code
Google and Facebook will be forced to take an all or nothing approach to news content in draft legislation the competition regulator believes will result in material payments from technology giants to local media.
- Max Mason and Natasha Gillezeau
June
Media regulator sets goals for fake news code
The ACMA's three key objectives with the code are to reduce the impact of harmful misinformation, empower people to better judge the quality of news and information and enhance the transparency and accountability of platforms' practices.
- Max Mason
Google cuts pay deals with small local publishers
Google has been adamant it would not pay for news but as the ACCC prepares to force it to recompense Australian publishers, it has struck deals with a handful of smaller outlets.
- Max Mason
Tech giant payments should be based on investment in journalism: Nine
The Nine CEO says the size of the fund, how it will be split, and who can get a share of the pie will be the key issues in drawing up a code of conduct
- Max Mason
Facebook pays less than $17m in tax in Australia
The result will reignite debate on the effectiveness of legislation stop multinationals shipping their profits offshore to more favourable tax jurisdictions.
- Max Mason
May
Google says ads against news searches worth just $10m
Google Australia boss Melanie Silva has slammed calls for Google and Facebook to pay between $600 million and $1 billion to use local media content.
- Max Mason
Tech giants must pay much more than $600m for news: News Corp
News Corp Australasia's Michael Miller pointed to suggestions made by Nick Xenophon that tech giants pay $1 billion for the value they get from news content.
- Max Mason
Tech giants should pay media $600m: Costello
Facebook and Google should pay 10 per cent of Australian-earned revenues for the advantages they get from Australian news and content, says Nine chairman Peter Costello.
- Max Mason and John Kehoe
April
- Opinion
- Paul Fletcher
Why the government is moving to tame the digital duopoly
Google and Facebook have fabulously profitable business models, but it is eroding the supply of journalism in Australia. It is time they paid their way.
- Paul Fletcher
European warning for Australian media's stoush with Big Tech
As Australian news publishers prepare to parley with Google and Facebook over ad revenues, the lesson from Europe is that disunity means defeat.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Local publishers line up for Big Tech revenue boost
Google and Facebook will face substantial fines if they do not comply with a new mandatory code of conduct for dealing with Australian media companies.
- Aaron Patrick, Max Mason and Yolanda Redrup
'Only fair': Facebook, Google ordered to pay up on news
Facebook and Google will be forced by the federal government to pay Australian media companies for publishing their news stories under a world-first mandatory code of conduct after negotiations with the two global digital giants failed.
- Max Mason
March
Facebook bug blocks COVID-19 news articles as spam
Users in several countries have had posts of articles related to COVID-19 from reputable news publishers blocked by the social media giant as "against our Community Standards on spam".
- Max Mason and Natasha Gillezeau
ACCC's advertising inquiry to examine fears of self-preferencing
The competition watchdog will look into four key issues during its inquiry before handing a draft report to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at the end of 2020.
- Max Mason
February
Google to kick off talks with media groups over payment standoff
News Corp Australasia chairman Michael Miller says Big Tech must pay publishers for the benefits they receive from high-quality journalism.
- Max Mason
December 2019
Gumtree confirms Carsguide acquisition
The purchase of the Carsguide and Autotrader brands is in line with a global strategy eBay has been implementing over the past 12 months.
- Max Mason and Simon Evans
Google to pay nearly $500m in tax settlement
The US technology giant will pay $481.5 million to settle the dispute and audit of its accounts between 2008 and 2018.
- Max Mason
ACCC's tech code has more teeth than other codes: Sims
Rod Sims said once a voluntary code is agreed upon, it is enforceable and there will be steep penalties for breaching.
- Max Mason
Canberra puts Facebook, Google 'on notice'
Australia will become the first country to force Facebook and Google to negotiate with media companies over the sharing of revenue, data and algorithms.
- Max Mason and Yolanda Redrup
