Google warns Australian search platform users of “dramatically worse” online experiences and the potential end of free services as the country’s media bargaining code as it is introduced.
Using a pop-up window in Google Search, the web giant began targeting users this week with an open letter claiming that ‘the way Aussies use Google is in jeopardy’ from the proposed regulation.
“We need to let you know about new government regulation that harms how Australians use Google Search and YouTube,” states the open letter from Google’s local boss Mel Silva.
“A proposed law, the code of conduct for news media, would force us to provide you with dramatically worse Google Search and YouTube, could lead to your data being passed on to major news outlets, and would jeopardize the free services you use. Australia.”
The draft code, released for consultation last month, will look at digital platforms that have forced Australian news media organizations to pay for their content to tackle “power imbalances”.
Initially limited to Google and Facebook, the new regulation would also introduce a number of enforced standards, including advanced message of all “important algorithm changes”.
Google was quick to challenge the proposed changes last month, with Silva suggesting that the “Heavy hand intervention” would affect his service.
But with the open letter, the search giant is now using its best ability to push its perspective.
Google said the proposed laws would force it to give an “unfair advantage” to new media, meaning it could no longer guarantee users would see “what is most relevant and useful”.
“News media companies would only get information that would help them inflate their rankings on everyone else, even if someone delivers a better result,” it stated.
“We have always treated all website owners fairly when it comes to ranking information.
“The proposed changes are not fair and they mean that Google Search results and YouTube will be worse for you.”
The letter also addresses issues with the ability for media organizations to pay, individually or collectively, with Google over payment.
Google said this was “set up to give special media companies special treatment and to encourage them to make enormous and unfair demands that would jeopardize our free services”.
“We will do everything we can to change this proposal so that we can protect how Search and YouTube work for you in Australia and continue to build constructive partnerships with news media companies – not choosing one over the other,” he said. said it.
It said it already pays news media “millions of dollars and sends them billions of free clicks every year”.
Google also used the letter to suggest that users “risk search data”, despite the code making it clear that there is no requirement for “platforms to increase user data sharing”.
“Under this law, Google must tell news media companies ‘how they can access’ data about your use of our products,” it said.
“There is no way to know if data transmitted is protected, or how it can be used by news media companies.”
