Australia unveiled draft laws on Tuesday that would impose a levy on major tech firms unless they strike deals to pay local publishers for news, escalating its push to regulate digital platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Meta, Google and TikTok would face a compulsory charge equal to 2.25% of their Australian revenue if they fail to reach agreements with media outlets under the proposed framework.
“Large digital platforms cannot avoid their obligations under the news media bargaining code,” Albanese told reporters, naming the three companies based on their market size and user base in Australia.
The draft laws aim to prevent platforms from removing news content to avoid paying for it, a tactic Meta and Google have previously used in response to similar regulatory efforts.
Albanese said the government prefers voluntary agreements and urged companies to negotiate directly with publishers. “What we are encouraging is for them to sit down with news organisations and get these deals done,” he said.
The policy also builds on earlier tensions between Canberra and tech firms. When the government proposed similar measures in 2024, Meta blocked Australian users from accessing news content, while Google warned that it might scale back its search services in the country.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the proposal reflects the growing reliance on social media for news consumption. “People are increasingly getting their news directly from Facebook, from TikTok and Google,” she said.
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A study by the University of Canberra found more than half of Australians use social media as a primary news source, increasing pressure on governments to ensure compensation for publishers.
The government has opened the draft legislation for public consultation until May and expects to introduce it in parliament later this year.
