What is the intention behind Google’s warning about the planned Government regulation of the web? Is it information or persuasion?
We all have been appalled by the unexpected pop-up warning messages on Google & Youtube recently. There has been a long debated proposition by the Australian Federal Government to regulate the commercial association between Google and large media companies.
Recently the Managing Director of Google Australia Mel Silva wrote an open letter to the Australians warning about the attack on the autonomy of web news & media presence in Australia. It is indeed a very complex issue and to make a strong statement about it just yet, would be providing an uninformed opinion.
Overall this can be seen as an outright attack on independent web service in Australia as most of us have a strong preference towards Google over any media company. So, is it probable that the arguments might portray Google in a positive light?
Few messages have been sent across Australians on the possible consequences regulation might have on the News Media Bargaining Code by Google.
How will this code affect Google?
Google will be required to share with “News Media businesses” (ie. large media corporations) details of how the Google search algorithm works — this will allow these organisations to alter the validity and value of the organic search and product content, originality that will naturally float to the top of the search rankings.
Furthermore, Google claims they will be required to tell news media businesses “How they can gain access” to Australia’s product usage data.
If that is the case then this would put the users privacy & freedom in jeopardy and expose them to risk when using the web, search engine, or simply engaging in any web-activities. This might kill the performance of the search algorithm for fetching appropriate and reliable news in Australia. This will result in empowering the old rooted media organisations as the dominant voice for Australian news.
Juxtaposed to this, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has deemed the proclaimed effect of this code on Google as their own choice- “Google will not be required to charge Australians for the use of its free services such as Google Search and YouTube, unless it chooses to do so”.
However, Google reckons that Australian news business does not account a huge monetary value to its operations, rather they have significantly paid the news companies in various modes and in fact driven a great amount of organic search towards Australian media companies for free.
Therefore, how do we interpret the open letter stating that the new regulation “would put the free services you use at risk in Australia”? The ACCC’s interpretation to this is that Google is indicating that they would charge users to use Google’s previously free services.
Or it’s an indication from Google to pull out of the Australian News market, should this regulation come into effect? What are the consequences if this was to happen?
It appears that this code might harm many small & independent organisations in Australia and subdue the voices of many. This dilemma has put Australia in a survival mode for free and open media to avoid the establishment of a monopolistic media industry. However, more information from Google Australia and the ACCC is required to form a well articulated debate.
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