 |
| Microsoft helps European media |
Microsoft partnered with European media to promote a system under which large technology platforms pay for news, increasing its share in the Australian battle over Google and Facebook for news.
The software giant and the four major news groups in the European Union have announced a plan to develop a joint solution for charging the use of news content on technology platforms.
The new plan aims to force tech platforms to share their revenues with European news media.
Facebook responded last week to a government proposal to ban Australians from accessing and sharing information on its platform, but the unexpected move sparked strong public opposition and sparked debate about the power of social media.
At the same time, Google took a different approach to news agencies after backtracking on the initial threat to shut down its search engine in Australia.
European Union Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton has expressed support for Australia. This is the latest sign that Facebook's move is counterproductive.
Britten told the European Union legislature: "I find it extremely regrettable that the program made such a decision to protest against the laws of a country and the program must adapt to the regulators and not the other way around."
He added that what is happening in Australia highlights the situation that needs to be changed, and Breton is leading the process of reforming digital regulation in the European Union to tame the power of big tech companies.
Microsoft has joined two lobby groups and two European newspaper and magazine publishers.
The company backed the Australian plan, which could help increase Bing's market share.
European Union countries are working hard to adopt the revised copyright rules, which were put in place by EU leaders before June.
These rules allow European media to negotiate payment methods with digital platforms in order to use their online content.
The imbalance in bargaining power between the two sides is troubling and the organization has called for new measures to be added to the upcoming digital regulation reform to address this problem.
The organization said in a statement: The European news media may not have the economic power to negotiate fair and equitable deals with technology companies that may threaten to suspend negotiations or withdraw completely from the market.