SINGAPORE – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday he held a “constructive meeting” with Google chief Sundar Pichai after technology giant threatened to withdraw its search engine from the country over a potential new law .
Essentially, Australia wants Internet giants Facebook and Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, to pay for the news.
The government introduced a media bill in parliament in December. If passed, the new media trading code would require digital platforms to pay local media and publishers to link their content to news feeds or search results. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, a government-appointed group will decide on the price.
“I thought it was a constructive meeting,” Morrison told reporters Thursday, according to the transcript of a press conference released by his office.
“I have been able to send them the best possible signals that should give them great encouragement to get involved in the process and conclude arrangements that we would like them to conclude with the various media organizations in Australia,” he said. .
Morrison said Google raised specific aspects of the media’s bargaining code during the call and that the discussions were about the company’s ability to continue to provide services in Australia.
“After all, they understand that Australia sets the rules for how these things work. And I was very clear about how I saw it playing out,” Morrison said, without further details.
Google did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.