The future of a proposed law that would force Facebook and Google to help fund the New Zealand journalism that contributes to their megabillion-dollar empires appears uncertain, in the wake of Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on countries that target US companies.
As the NZ Herald revealed in December, the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill has been placed on hold. Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith had opted to instead wait to see how the Australian Government handled the global tech giants with its own enhanced legislation.
But the Aussies have now taken fright themselves, delaying any plans to toughen its laws in the wake of the tariff threats from the US president.
Well that is an unexpected benefit of President Trump – he’ll stop the NZ Government from progressing an unethical tax on tech companies to fund legacy media companies.
I would prefer the Government not proceed because it is an awful idea – both in principle and likely practice, but failing that I’ll settle for not proceeding to avoid trade sanctions.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
1 comment:
So the Donald protects free speech in NZ, and the little dogs yap and dance about his feet, lest somebody stands up for the common man and his persecution by left tards and vacc nutters
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