Australian government also stood up to Google

Google threatens to cancel search.

The US technology company Google has warned Australia that it will block its search engine if the government enforces a new law, which wants to force large Internet companies such as Google and Facebook to pay media companies for the right to use their content. The company threat is an escalation of a worldwide dispute with publishers such as News Corp, Reuters reported.

Problem with media reports in search

Australia is about to pass a law that would force technology giants to agree with local publishers and news media on payments for their content embedded in search results or news. If the parties did not agree, the government would appoint an arbitrator to decide on the price. If this proposal became law, there would be nothing left for Google but to stop offering search services in Australia, said Mel Silva, Google's executive director for Australia and New Zealand, at a Senate committee hearing. She added that the company is willing to pay media companies fairly for the use of their content, but not for publishing links or excerpts, as required by law.