Australia to Google: ‘Focus on Paying For original Content’

Australia urged Google on Thursday to “focus on paying for original content, not blocking it” after the internet giant said it was running tests that limit access to domestic news content, deepening a rift between the tech giant and the government. After the Alphabet Inc owned search engine provider said it was conducting experiments to determine the value of its service to Australian news outlets, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg accused it of “blocking” users when it should be paying for the content. “The digital giants should focus on paying for original content, not blocking it,” Frydenberg told reporters, referring to Google and social media behemoth Facebook Inc. The companies should “pay traditional news media businesses a fair sum of money for those news media businesses generating original content,” he added.