Australia to make Google, Facebook pay remuneration to news outlets

New Delhi : Australia has ordered its Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to create a mandatory code of conduct which will force companies like Facebook, Google and others to pay news outlets for their content.

The code will also dictate data sharing, news sharing, and penalties will be imposed if companies do not follow the code, Engadget reported.

Government Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it was "only fair" that news outlets get paid for the content they have been producing.

A draft version of the code is likely to get ready by the end of July, although it’s not certain when a finalized version would appear.

Facebook and Google have been continuously opposing the proposal. Countries like France have ordered internet firms to pay for showing news article snippets, and Google has gone so far as to remove news previews. Australia’s code might not have its intended effect if companies simply find ways to avoid payments.