Summarised by Centrist

The government’s Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, purportedly to ensure tech giants like Google and Meta pay for the local journalism, faces an uncertain future. 

Sources suggest a recent meeting between Google and officials led to the delay, with one insider noting the bill is now “snagged.” Another source stated, “Apparently it’s over.”

Although the bill was scheduled for a second reading in Parliament, it was removed from the agenda. Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith’s office commented only that “the bill wasn’t ready this week.” When asked directly if the government remained committed to the bill, Goldsmith’s office did not respond. The law, introduced last year and backed by major media groups, was expected to create a framework for compensation for New Zealand journalism.

Google, however, has pushed back, branding the bill a “link tax.” In an August letter, Google’s global affairs president Kent Walker warned that passing the bill could lead Google to scale back services and end investments in New Zealand media, echoing recent moves in Canada to set caps on payments for news.

Editor’s note: Commentators have argued the proposed bill could harm local media by discouraging tech platforms from sharing news, reducing engagement and reach. Many have warned that following Canada’s model could lead to blocked content and lost revenue, potentially isolating rather than supporting New Zealand journalism. You can find more coverage on the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill here.

Read more over at The NZ Herald (paywalled)

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