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But wouldn't that law apply to other search engines as well? From what I could gather from the article it's a really stupid ill-thought out law and damages the

But wouldn't that law apply to other search engines as well? From what I could gather from the article it's a really stupid ill-thought out law and damages the whole internet in Australia for the benefit of few news companies.

manicdee 6y ago
All the search engine has to do is direct traffic to the site where the article is, not host on AMP and thus collect all the royalties and ad revenue itself. In the meantime, Google is “experimenting” with leaving out Australian media entirely which on one hand is good (starving Murdoch of oxygen) but on the other hand is terrible (starving everyone of oxygen).
- plorkyeran 6y ago
  The proposed law lets news companies charge search engines which simply direct traffic to their site (and does not allow search engines to delist the sites). AMP and all of Google's other moves beyond merely being a search engine are irrelevant here.
jjcm 6y ago
Potentially, but realistically not unless the engine has reached a critical mass. Per the draft code[0] whether or not it applies to your company is up to the Treasurer[1] - see relevant section: https://i.imgur.com/7RSqXDJ.png https://i.imgur.com/7RSqXDJ.png There's a major issue here because as a search company you could wake up one day to find that a single person has decided your revenue and expenditure has changed drastically. Even if you believe the spirit of this law is good, the way this is written is downright dangerous. [0] https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Exposure%20Draft%20Bill%20-%20TREASURY%20LAWS%20AMENDENT%20%28NEWS%20MEDIA%20AND%20DIGITAL%20PLATFORMS%20MANDATORY%20BARGAINING%20CODE%29%20BILL%202020.pdf https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Exposure%20Draft%20Bill... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer_of_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer_of_Australia
- andromeduck 6y ago
  Sounds like a way to extort political favors.
asymptosis 6y ago
Sure, it's a stupid law, but that's a separate issue to the idea that Google's response is also self-defeating. We're already laughing at the idea of Google search no longer being available, like do they think we haven't heard of DDG and Startpage?
- ocdtrekkie 6y ago
  Startpage is just using Google data, so presumably if it's able to still operate in Australia when Google does not, it'll be missing a lot of relevant recent data for the Australian market.
- Ajedi32 6y ago
  I think the point is it doesn't matter whether it's self-defeating or not. If the law passes it becomes infeasible for Google search to continue to operate in Australia legally, so they have to shut it off; simple as that. Google isn't making threats, just stating facts.

manicdee 6y ago

All the search engine has to do is direct traffic to the site where the article is, not host on AMP and thus collect all the royalties and ad revenue itself. In the meantime, Google is “experimenting” with leaving out Australian media entirely which on one hand is good (starving Murdoch of oxygen) but on the other hand is terrible (starving everyone of oxygen).

plorkyeran 6y ago
The proposed law lets news companies charge search engines which simply direct traffic to their site (and does not allow search engines to delist the sites). AMP and all of Google's other moves beyond merely being a search engine are irrelevant here.

jjcm 6y ago

Potentially, but realistically not unless the engine has reached a critical mass. Per the draft code[0] whether or not it applies to your company is up to the Treasurer[1] - see relevant section: https://i.imgur.com/7RSqXDJ.png https://i.imgur.com/7RSqXDJ.png There's a major issue here because as a search company you could wake up one day to find that a single person has decided your revenue and expenditure has changed drastically. Even if you believe the spirit of this law is good, the way this is written is downright dangerous. [0] https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Exposure%20Draft%20Bill%20-%20TREASURY%20LAWS%20AMENDENT%20%28NEWS%20MEDIA%20AND%20DIGITAL%20PLATFORMS%20MANDATORY%20BARGAINING%20CODE%29%20BILL%202020.pdf https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Exposure%20Draft%20Bill... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer_of_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer_of_Australia

andromeduck 6y ago
Sounds like a way to extort political favors.

asymptosis 6y ago

Sure, it's a stupid law, but that's a separate issue to the idea that Google's response is also self-defeating. We're already laughing at the idea of Google search no longer being available, like do they think we haven't heard of DDG and Startpage?

ocdtrekkie 6y ago
Startpage is just using Google data, so presumably if it's able to still operate in Australia when Google does not, it'll be missing a lot of relevant recent data for the Australian market.
Ajedi32 6y ago
I think the point is it doesn't matter whether it's self-defeating or not. If the law passes it becomes infeasible for Google search to continue to operate in Australia legally, so they have to shut it off; simple as that. Google isn't making threats, just stating facts.