SYDNEY: Google has urged YouTubers round the world to complain to Australian authorities because it ratchets up its campaign against an idea to force digital giants to buy news content.
Alongside pop-ups warning "the way Aussies use Google is at risk", which began appearing for Australian Google users on Monday, the tech titan also urged YouTube creators worldwide to complain to the nation's consumer watchdog.
"The YouTube you recognize and love is in danger in Australia," the corporate tweeted from its YouTube Creators account Monday, also encouraging those outside of Australia to email their concerns to the body behind the plan.
The landmark measures would come with fines worth many dollars for non-compliance and would force transparency round the closely guarded algorithms which tech firms use to rank content.
YouTube's boss within the region Gautam Anand, following an identical letter from the director of Google in Australia, wrote a message to the platform's creators and artists.
"My primary focus is supporting you and your work to create a thriving creator ecosystem," Anand said.
The proposal would create an "uneven playing field" and permit big news businesses to demand larger shares of cash from the platform — taking funds faraway from smaller creators, he warned.
"The imbalances created by this proposed law could potentially affect all kinds of Australian creators, far beyond those that specialise in news: from vloggers, to educational creators, to music artists and beyond."
The legislation will initially specialise in Facebook and Google — two of the world's richest and most powerful companies — but could eventually apply to any digital platform.
Virus crisis
Australia's proposals are being closely watched round the world, as regulators increasingly train their specialise in the rapidly changing sector.
News media worldwide have suffered within the digital economy, where big tech firms overwhelmingly capture advertising revenue.
The crisis has been exacerbated by the coronavirus-triggered economic collapse, with dozens of Australian newspapers closed and many journalists sacked in recent months.
Unlike other countries' so-far unsuccessful efforts to force the platforms to buy news, the Australian initiative relies on competition law instead of copyright regulations.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which is drafting the government's code of conduct, hit back at Google's letter saying it "contains misinformation".
The consumer watchdog said the digital giant would "not be required" to share additional user data with the journalism or charge Australians to use its free services "unless it chooses to try to to so".
"The draft code will allow Australian news businesses to barter for fair payment for his or her journalists' work that's included on Google services," it said during a statement.
It has strong support from local media outlets and is predicted to be introduced this year.
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