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That’s why their practices have been as lethal to digital-only new media, such as BuzzFeed and Slate, as they have to the so-called “legacy” media.
But no amount of distractions or excuses can hide the fact that countries around are taking action against monopolistic practices that have grown dangerous for both democracy and the free market.
Of particular relevance to Canada is how Australia is standing up to the web giants and empowering local news.
With all-party support in their national parliament, the Australians are taking a comprehensive approach that allows their new publishers to negotiate for compensation as a group with Google and Facebook, mitigating the huge power imbalance.
They’re also putting in place codes of conduct and enforcement with real teeth.
And they’re doing all this without the need for additional government funding, or new taxes or consumer fees.
The massive margins of both Google and Facebook are such that they can afford to start paying fairly for what they’ve been getting for free.
Australia and Canada have a lot in common. Our economies are similar. So are our parliamentary and legal systems. We’re both federal states. And we both have strong regions.
In short, there’s no reason why the approach being adopted in Australia can’t also work here in Canada.
That’s why we’re urging the government – and all parties in the House of Commons – to adopt the Australian model in Canada.
It’s not the role of democratic governments to pick winners and losers in the marketplace of ideas.
But it is their role to step in when monopolistic practices are preventing that marketplace from functioning. That’s happening around the world.
Now it’s time for Canada to step up.
— Jamie Irving is Vice President of Brunswick News Inc. and chair of News Media Canada’s working group.
