The Australian government has introduced a new bill aimed at forcing major tech platforms such as Meta, Google and TikTok to strike financial agreements with local media outlets for the use of their content.
The initiative comes as traditional media in Australia continues to face financial pressure, while an increasing share of the public consumes news through free social media platforms.
Supporters of the bill argue that these platforms benefit from news content to attract users and generate advertising revenue without fairly compensating media organisations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said companies would first be given the chance to negotiate commercial deals with Australian media.
If they refuse, they could face a charge of 2.25% of their Australian turnover, with the funds redistributed to the news sector.
Albanese said large platforms “cannot avoid their responsibilities to the media,” stressing that the new measures strengthen existing regulations. The bill also prevents companies from bypassing obligations by removing news content from their platforms—something Meta and Google have previously done in other countries.
According to data from the University of Canberra, more than half of Australians now rely on social media as their primary source of news.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has opposed digital taxes targeting American tech firms and has warned of possible trade measures against countries that impose them. Albanese, however, insisted Australia will act in its national interest, saying: “We are a sovereign nation, and our decisions will be based on Australia’s interests.”
