According to the government, the law will give better bargaining power to news companies who have struggled for advertising revenue, while Google and Facebook have been filling their pockets.
What do Indian news publishers say?
Meanwhile, Quint spoke to some Indian news publishers, who said that there is actually an imbalance in the relationship between ‘big tech’ platforms and publishers.
The confrontation between Facebook, Google and the Australian Government has also attracted the attention of other parts of the world. Many countries, including Canada and Britain, are considering similar steps to rein in major tech platforms and maintain media diversity.
Abhinandan Sekari, co-founder and CEO of NewsLaundry, said that as a philosophy and a general trend in the digital space, there are two facts.
First, Sekri explained, “Some tech giants are benefiting greatly. They are the highest profit making companies of the world so far and they have also benefited due to the news generated by news companies.
Apart from this, he said, “At the Philosophical level, it is better to give less importance to the world and let journalism remain important. As a broad argument, I am completely in favor of it.
Agreeing that such a regulatory step could work in India as well, Verma said, “If Australia, Europe has a proposal coming in and if the US is inquiring into issues related to monopoly abuse, then Why should India be different? ”
On the question whether such a move would be welcomed in India too, Verma said, “I hope we will, because saving journalism is more important for India. India is a democracy and it is in the public interest to save journalism for the sake of democracy. ”
