Google threatens to stop linking NZ news sites

This is the transcript of Will's Word on 7 October, 2024:

Let’s talk about the news media now and the proposed Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill.

For context the bill aims to make tech giants like Google pay for linking to local news content.

Now in recent days Google has hit back, threatening to stop linking to New Zealand news sites – and I can't help but feel like this is a bad bill.

It’s not for the Government to intervene, it should ultimately be up to audiences to decide where and how they consume their news. In other words, let the market decide.

If Google pulls back on promoting New Zealand news, many smaller outlets that rely on its platforms for visibility and traffic could struggle to survive. The so-called "link tax" might help larger news organisations but would likely leave smaller players in the lurch.

Government intervention could lead to unintended consequences couldn’t it? It could hurt competition and diversity in the media. Instead of imposing mandates, the focus should be on fostering collaboration between tech companies and news organisations.

Ultimately, I’d argue a healthy news ecosystem thrives when the market works freely. Rather than trying to regulate how tech companies interact with news, let’s create an environment that encourages innovation and support for journalism.

So to our media organisations in this country --- be careful what you wish for.