Google’s YouTube blog pits major publishers like News Corp against individual makers. “Under this law, major news outlets will be able to access data about viewers’ use of our products,” it wrote. ‘They could use [that data to] try to appear higher in rankings on YouTube, and harm all other creators. “The company added that the rule would compromise the protection of user data.
Our response to Google’s open letter: https://t.co/s1IkWoKAVj
– ACCC (@acccgovau) August 17, 2020
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Google’s open letter “contains incorrect information” about free search and YouTube services. “Google will not be obliged to pay Australians for the use of its free services such as Google Search and YouTube unless it chooses to do so,” the ACCC wrote in response. “Google will not be required to share additional user data with Australian news companies unless it chooses to do so.”
Google opposes similar laws in Europe, particularly in France and Spain. After France implemented a similar law, Google said it would simply remove examples of news to pay payers. However, the French government ordered it to negotiate fees with publishers, saying in essence that Google is a search monopoly and should be regulated as such.
