Australia passes law forcing Google, Meta to pay news outlets

The Australian government finalized legislation on 3 August 2026 that obliges major digital platforms – including Google, Meta, TikTok and LinkedIn – to either negotiate commercial agreements with Australian news organisations or remit a fee equal to 2.5 % of the digital advertising revenue they generate in Australia. The fee applies once a platform’s Australian‑derived ad revenue exceeds AU$250 million.

The law also raises the incentive for deals with smaller publishers, offering up to a 200 % revenue share, and earmarks 5 % of the collected fees to support small‑scale news businesses and start‑ups. Treasury Assistant Minister Daniel Mulino said the measure is intended to “ensure the sustainability of the Australian news sector now and in the future,” while News Corp Australia CEO Michael Miller warned that the changes could “weaken the incentive for platforms to reach fair agreements with Australian news outlets.”