Government slow to make Google pay for local news

by Stephen Parker — 12.8.2021

YouTube has overtaken TVNZ 1 as New Zealand’s most-watched channel, and its parent company Google is laughing all the way to the bank. Photo: Getty Images

Has the Government just been outplayed by Google’s hardball?

The year started with the Broadcasting and Media Minister saying he had received assurances from Google that the big tech giant is seeking commercial deals with local news outlets to pay for the news content it hoovers up.

A softly-softly approach was embraced by the Government to avoid an acrimonious stoush with the big social media companies like that seen in Australia.  Kris Faafoi is fully aware that local journalism needs additional revenue, but he has hesitated to pull out the big stick.

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