Indonesia also now tightens its grip on Google Meta, digital news publishers will have to pay

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia has signed a bill requiring digital news publishers (DNPs) to be paid by tech behemoths like Google and Meta. Indonesia has joined Australia, Canada, and France as the fourth nations to take similar action against tech giants.

On Indonesia's National Journalism Day, Widodo said on the new law that its provisions will come into effect from August. After this, tech giants like Google and Meta will have to pay separately in addition to advertising revenue to display news content on their platforms. Under these rules, transparent agreements can be made regarding payment, licensing, revenue sharing and data sharing. Along with this, there is a provision in the law that technology platforms will prioritise the news content of verified media outlets. They will also contribute to journalist training programs and help curb the spread of fake news in the country.

Widodo said the law aims to resolve long-standing grievances of publishers. Digital publishers say they are losing their share of revenue to tech giants as their content is shown in search results without any compensation. Tech giants benefit from using news content in this way but do not share this profit with them. Widodo said that making rules in this regard was a tedious process, especially as it was very difficult to find a middle ground. Because the major digital platforms had different aspirations.

Platforms like Google Meta are the subject of hearings about revenue sharing before competition authorities and courts across numerous nations. Like Australia and Canada, many other nations have made progress in enacting laws. Regulations to compel Google and Facebook to pay for news are also being developed in Britain, Germany, and Spain.

The Delhi High Court is currently deliberating over a petition filed by DNPA, an association of Indian digital news publishers, against Google. It has been requested that the court launch an inquiry into the claims made against Google regarding the abuse of its monopoly and unequal revenue sharing, and establish a structure that safeguards their interests.

Australia is the first country where tech platforms pay DNP as per the rate set by the government. The Australian Parliament passed the Digital Platform Mandatory Bargaining Code in February 2021.

According to the law passed by the Canadian Parliament in June 2023, tech platforms will have to enter into agreements with digital publishers. They will have to share their global revenues with local companies.