Anthony Albanese Pushes Tech Giants To Pay For Australian News; Meta, Google Could Face Charges

Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 10:59 IST

Australian PM Anthony Albanese said big tech must pay its “fair share” for using journalism, as his government moves to enforce contributions to local news.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated the push to require major technology platforms to pay for news content, warning that companies that benefit from journalism must contribute to its sustainability.

In a post on X, Albanese wrote, “Right now, big tech companies can benefit from Australian journalism without paying their fair share."

“We’re taking the next steps to make sure platforms contribute to Australian news. Because there’s no substitute for Australian news and stories told by Australian journalists," he said.

The remarks come as Australian capital Canberra unveiled draft legislation aimed at forcing global tech giants to strike payment deals with local media outlets or face financial penalties.

PROPOSED LEVY TARGETS META, GOOGLE, TIKTOK

According to a Reuters report, companies such as Meta, Google and TikTok could face multimillion-dollar charges if they fail to negotiate agreements with Australian publishers.

The proposed “News Bargaining Incentive" would impose a 2.25 per cent levy on their local revenues unless deals are reached, with the proceeds redistributed to support journalism.

Communications Minister Anika Wells was quoted as underscoring the rationale behind the move, saying, “People are increasingly getting their news directly from Facebook, from TikTok and from Google, and we believe it’s only fair that large digital platforms contribute to the hard work of journalism that enriches their feeds, and that drives their revenue."

She added that platforms choosing not to strike deals would ultimately pay more under the system.

GOVERNMENT ASSERTS SOVEREIGN DECISION-MAKING

Addressing concerns over international backlash, including opposition from US President Donald Trump to digital service taxes, Albanese maintained that Australia would act independently.

According to Reuters, he said, “We’re a sovereign nation. And my government will make decisions based upon the Australian national interest."

The levy is expected to come into effect from the 2025-26 financial year, beginning July 1.

REPLACING A FALTERING 2021 FRAMEWORK

The new proposal is intended to replace Australia’s 2021 media bargaining laws, which the government said were “no longer working effectively."

Under the earlier regime, tech firms were required to pay for news content, but companies found ways to sidestep obligations, including temporarily blocking news content.

Reuters noted that Meta had previously restricted news sharing before later signing agreements with Australian media firms, deals that expired in 2024.

GLOBAL MEDIA UNDER PRESSURE

A report with AFP noted that traditional media organisations worldwide are struggling as audiences increasingly consume news via social media platforms.

Australia’s proposed law seeks to ensure that tech firms compensate publishers for content that drives user engagement and advertising revenue.

Albanese stressed that platforms would be given an opportunity to negotiate voluntarily but warned of consequences if they refused.

“Large digital platforms cannot avoid their obligations under the news media bargaining code," he said, adding that Meta, Google and TikTok were the primary targets.

He further argued that journalism must carry economic value.

“It shouldn’t be able to be taken by a large multinational corporation and used to generate profits with no compensation," he added.

CLOSING LOOPHOLES AND PREVENTING CONTENT BLOCKS

The draft laws aim to close loopholes that previously allowed companies to avoid payments by removing news content altogether.

AFP reported that the legislation is designed to prevent a repeat of such tactics, which Meta and Google have used in the past.

The government is also incentivising deals with smaller publishers by offering larger offsets for agreements with them.

INDUSTRY PUSHBACK AND NEXT STEPS

Meanwhile, Meta has criticised the proposal, calling it “nothing more than a digital services tax," and arguing that publishers voluntarily post content on its platforms, AFP reported.

The draft legislation will be open for public consultation until May and is expected to be introduced in parliament later this year, marking a significant step in Australia’s ongoing effort to regulate the relationship between big tech and the news industry, the report mentioned.

News world Anthony Albanese Pushes Tech Giants To Pay For Australian News; Meta, Google Could Face Charges

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