sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px" BRUSSELS — Australia's parliament passed final amendments to a media law on Thursday that will force Google and Facebook to pay for news content. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"The final amendments stemmed from negotiations between Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg that prompted Facebook to lift a ban on sharing and accessing news content in the country. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"The rest of the law was passed in parliament earlier and can now be implemented. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"Google has already struck deals with major Australian news businesses in recent weeks including News Corp. and Seven West Media. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px""Google and Facebook need media, but they don't need any particular media company, and that meant media companies couldn't do commercial deals," said Rod Sims, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"Sims said he was happy the legislation would address a market imbalance between publishers and the digital giants. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"Some raised concerns that tiny publications might miss out but Sims said it would take time and that it would play out for a long time. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px""I don't see any reason why anybody should doubt that all journalism will benefit," Sims said. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"The new amendments would give digital platforms one month's notice before they are formally designated under the code. That would give those involved more time to broker agreements with news organizations before they are forced to enter binding arbitration arrangements. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"Facebook Vice President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg said on Wednesday that the Australian law, without this week's amendments, would have enabled media conglomerates to "demand a blank check." p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px""Thankfully, after further discussion, the Australian government has agreed to changes that mean fair negotiations are encouraged without the looming threat of heavy-handed and unpredictable arbitration," Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister, wrote in a Facebook post. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"Facebook last week prevented Australians from sharing news, but also blocked access to pandemic, public health and emergency services. p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"Clegg said Facebook had "erred on the side of over-enforcement" and "some content was blocked inadvertently." p style="border:0px none; box-sizing:inherit; color:#000000; font-family:"Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; line-height:1.55rem; margin-bottom:1.2rem; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-top:0px; padding:0px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; text-rendering:optimizelegibility; text-transform:none; vertical-align:initial; white-space:normal; word-spacing:0px"Frydenberg said his department will review the code within a year to "ensure it is delivering outcomes that are consistent with government's policy intent." — Euro news
