Google threatens to pull its search engine from Australia

Google has threatened to pull its search engine from Australia and Facebook has threatened to pull news from its Australian feeds if a code forcing the companies to negotiate payments to big news media companies becomes law.

More than 19 million Australians use Google services every month would no longer be able to and 17 Million Facebook users would see news disappear from their news feed.

Both Google and Facebook are fighting against legislation currently before the parliament that would force them to negotiate payment to big media giants, if an agreement cannot be reached an arbiter would decide on an amount payable.

Today Google has said the legislation is not viable and they would have to pull Google services from Australia which would impact every single business that relies on Google for web traffic.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is not backing down from this legislation which will line the pockets of his big media donors.

“Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That’s done in our parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia and people who want to work with that, in Australia, you’re very welcome.

“But we don’t respond to threats.”