Alongside pop-ups warning ‘the way Aussies use Google is at risk’, which began appearing for Australian Google users yesterday, the tech titan also urged YouTube creators worldwide to complain to the nation’s consumer watchdog. — AFP pic
“The YouTube you know and love is at risk in Australia,” the company tweeted from its YouTube Creators account yesterday, also encouraging those outside of Australia to email their concerns to the body behind the plan. “My primary focus is supporting you and your work to build a thriving creator ecosystem,” Anand said.
The legislation will initially focus on Facebook and Google — two of the world’s richest and most powerful companies — but could eventually apply to any digital platform.Australia’s proposals are being closely watched around the world, as regulators increasingly train their focus on the rapidly changing sector.
Unlike other countries’ so-far unsuccessful efforts to force the platforms to pay for news, the Australian initiative relies on competition law rather than copyright regulations.