The Australian government requires Facebook and Google to pay

The Australian government requires Facebook and Google to pay local press groups when using their content.

The American group, Microsoft, has prepared an "alternative plan" if its rival, Google, implements its threat to leave Australia if Canberra proceeds with its project to force the giants of the digital sector to pay the media, according to press information.

The Australian government has put in place a "Code of Conduct" that requires Facebook and Google to pay Australian press groups when using their content.

The two American giants have hinted to stop their main services in Australia if the new law takes effect.

Last week, Google Australia's director-general, Mel Silva, said during a parliamentary inquiry that her group would block its search engine in Australia if this law was implemented.

The Australian newspaper reported that, in the following days, Microsoft President Satya Nadella discussed with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison the possibility of developing Microsoft’s Bing search engine in case Google shuts down its engine, saying that his group has developed an “alternative plan” to work with in the event of withdrawal. Google from the Australian market.

The Australian Finance Minister, Josh Friedenberg, confirmed that this phone conversation had taken place, explaining that the government was conducting in-depth negotiations with "players in the sector".

Australia reserves the right to impose these rules on other platforms, and speculation indicates that this may affect Microsoft's MSN service.

A Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement, "With regard to the controversy currently taking place regarding a possible code of conduct that deals with Google and Facebook, Microsoft is not directly involved, and we do not make any comments regarding the course."

Facebook President Mark Zuckerberg is also putting pressure on Australia, as last week he called Friedenberg to talk to him about the code of conduct and its implications.

Friedenberg described this conversation on the Australian ABC channel as "very constructive," but indicated that it "did not persuade him to back down" from the current course.

Facebook has warned that it may prevent users in Australia from sharing content from Australian media on its platform.

"What I know is that the media should get paid for their content. What I also know is that ... on this issue or in the cyber threat and terrorist content on the Internet, we have prepared ourselves to confront the internet giants," Friedenberg said.

This new law would compel Google and Facebook to pay Australian media outlets for their content, under penalty of fines of millions of dollars in case of violation.

Source: Website