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Google says it will stop linking to New Zealand news if proposed new law passed


 Google has announced that it will cease linking to New Zealand news articles and terminate its agreements with local news organizations if the country's government enacts a proposed law requiring tech giants to compensate news outlets for the content displayed on their platforms. This legislation, initially proposed by the previous Labour-led government, aims to ensure fair revenue sharing between digital platforms and news media.

Google’s New Zealand Country Director, Caroline Rainsford, stated in a blog post that the bill in its current form would force the company to make significant changes, including ending links to news content on Google Search, Google News, and Discover, as well as halting its existing commercial agreements with local publishers. Google expressed concerns that the law would be detrimental to smaller publishers and create financial uncertainty due to its uncapped financial obligations, which go against the principle of an open Internet.

New Zealand's Minister for Media and Communications, Paul Goldsmith, acknowledged the concerns and noted that the government is still in the consultation phase and considering various viewpoints. While the minority ACT party opposes the law, it is likely to garner enough cross-party support to pass once finalized.

The proposed law follows in the footsteps of Australia, which implemented similar legislation in 2021, requiring tech companies to negotiate with media outlets. A 2022 review found that the Australian law had largely succeeded in its goals.

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