Tech companies invoke possibility of Trump’s wrath in fight against Labor’s media laws

Tech giants claim Australia’s free trade agreement with the United States will be violated, as they try to kill a proposal to force them to pay news companies

Tech companies are invoking Australia’s free trade agreement with the United States, and threats of a Trump administration retaliation in a bid to kill off the federal government’s proposal to force them to pay news companies.

The news media bargaining incentive is designed to force Meta, Google and TikTok to make commercial deals with Australian media outlets, or be forced to pay a dedicated 2.25% levy on local revenues.