New Zealand’s conservative coalition government will move forward on a bill that would make it mandatory for digital technology platforms to pay media companies for news.
The bill is being introduced at a time when New Zealand’s media companies are struggling with technology companies for advertising, forcing them to find new ways to provide news programs.
Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, introduced by the previous Labor government last year, would be introduced to parliament with amendments to “help local media companies earn revenue from the news they produce.”
Goldsmith said the proposed changes would bring it closer to Australia’s digital bargaining laws.
The law, which took effect in Australia in March 2021, gives the government the power to force internet firms such as Facebook-owner Meta Platforms and Alphabet Inc’s Google to negotiate content supply deals with media outlets if the parties fail to reach an agreement on payment.
Meta said New Zealand’s bill ignores the reality of how its platforms work, their voluntary nature, user preferences and the free value they provide to news outlets.
“As this bill progresses, we will continue to be open and transparent with the government and publishers regarding our business decisions,” a Meta spokesperson said in an email.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meta blocked news content from appearing on Facebook after Canada introduced similar legislation in 2023. Meta has also said it plans to stop paying Australian media companies for news and the government is still considering whether to intervene.
Goldsmith said the proposed changes would give the Communications Minister the power to decide which digital platforms would fall under the purview of the law. He said an independent regulator would be appointed for the bill.
Goldsmith said one of the ruling coalition’s partners, the right-wing ACT New Zealand party, would not support the bill, meaning it must receive the support of other parties to pass.
The opposition Labor Party said it would examine the amendments, but supported the aim of the bill.
“I am relieved the government is showing prudence and moving forward with legislation to make the media landscape more equitable for news companies operating online,” Labor spokesman for media and broadcasting Willie Jackson said in a statement.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)