Cam Slater: Yeah, That’ll Work… Oh Wait!

American R&B and blues musician and activist, Daryl Davis once said, “a stupid person is someone who has the facts, who has the proper information, and still makes the wrong decision.” And along comes Paul Goldsmith to prove the point.

The National-led coalition will progress the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, which would make tech giants pay for the news they use on their sites, after what appeared as a months-long stalemate on the issue.

Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith on Tuesday morning confirmed the bill – which has near-unanimous support across the media sector – would progress. In the meantime, the Government would develop a long-term reform programme.

The legislation was introduced by the former Labour government. Goldsmith said he has looked closely at its design and would be changing it to more closely align with the Australian digital bargaining code.

Industry leaders, including from Stuff, made their case for the Government to keep working on a law that would force internet giants like Google and Facebook to pay for news, first started at a select committee in Wellington in February.

The bill was expected to complete the select committee process in May.

Stuff

This has all the hallmarks of the party of the status quo, National, pressing on regardless despite clear flaws in the legislation.

The media luvvies think this will save them: they are wrong.

And have a look at the heroic assumptions.

Andrew Holden, News Publishers’ Association director of public affairs, said he was “delighted and relieved” at the decision to move ahead with the legislation.

“It was very clear from the many submissions made to a Select Committee in February that this Bill has the overwhelming support of New Zealand’s media companies, whether their main platform is digital, print, radio or television.

He explained how the legislation would work: “This Bill will allow us to sit down with Big Tech companies and negotiate a fair payment for the value that our news content brings to their businesses.

“If we can’t reach agreement, then the legislation allows for both sides to go to mediation, where an independent arbitrator will judge the merits of each side’s argument.

“The NPA is confident that this legislation will bring additional revenue to our media industry, as has happened in Australia and Canada. The state of California is also progressing its own legislation that will require Big Tech companies to sit down and negotiate with local media.

“The key issue for New Zealand media is not a lack of innovation or trust; it’s being able to gain true value from its journalism in an advertising market that has been deliberately skewed to favour those Big Tech companies.

“We have always said that this legislation is not a silver bullet that will solve all the problems facing our industry. But it is a significant and welcome step forward.”

Stuff

Bless, the stupid is strong in this fellow. Someone needs to ask him how Canada and Australia fared when they tried that approach. Here’s a clue: they failed.

The big tech companies simply stopped serving news to Aussie and Canadian readers. They neither sat down nor did they negotiate and the ignorant laws were rendered useless.

But, just like socialism, they did it wrong apparently, so we will give it a go…because…???

It’s the underpants-stealing plan, just like the gnomes in South Park:


Click to view

Step 1. Tax social media giants
Step 2. ???
Step 3. Profit!

If I were Google, Facebook and X, I’d implement a total block on news immediately in anticipation of the new law and stand back and watch the howls of outrage from the public. The bill would be withdrawn in less than a week.

It seems only ACT has the brainpower to comprehend the stupidity of this bill.

“The Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill will not solve the fundamental challenges facing traditional media: it’s never been easier to share information online, but people don’t want the product on offer,” he [David Seymour] said in a statement.

“Media companies claim they need the Government to step in because internet companies are exploiting them. In my experience, it’s not always clear who needs who the most. Media firms get traffic from Google and Meta, they can’t prove they’re not benefiting from the internet firms.”

Stuff

As Forrest Gump used to say, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

Cam Slater is a New Zealand-based blogger, best known for his role in Dirty Politics and publishing the Whale Oil Beef Hooked blog, which operated from 2005 until it closed in 2019. Cam blogs regularly on the BFD - where this article was sourced.