The YouTube campaign follows Google’s targeting of Australian users with pop-up warning ads that link to an open letter on the mandatory news code which the ACCC says contains “disinformation.”
YouTube Creators
(@ytcreators)The YouTube you know and love is in danger in Australia. A proposed new law, the News Media Trading Code, could have a significant negative impact on creators in Australia. Your voice matters. → https://t.co/gR5Hf81DIH pic.twitter.com/oPnC6fi3If
Aug 17, 2020
Campaign says “vloggers,” “educational creators” and “music artists” are among those to suffer if the mandatory news code, which will require Google to share ad revenue with publishers, goes into effect .
When news content compensation negotiations stalled between Google, Facebook and publishers including Nine Entertainment and News Corp Australia, the ACCC announced that a mandatory code would be imposed.
The search giant is now appealing to the public to ask the ACCC to abandon its plan, arguing the code would have a “significant negative” effect on content creators.
“YouTube may be forced to provide large news publishers with confidential information about our systems that they could use to try to appear higher in the rankings on YouTube, which would put all other creators at a disadvantage. That would mean you could get fewer views and earn less, ”Google tells users.
Google on Twitter is actively encouraging people to contact the ACCC, saying: “We engage directly with the government, including elected representatives in the federal parliament, but your voice is also important – we have shared an open letter with the Australian public … And will have more means to get involved in the coming days.
“There are several areas of deep concern to us about this proposed law, as it prioritizes the traditional information industry over small content creators and the platforms they find audiences on. The company says. “We are particularly concerned that it offers unfair advantages to large news companies over anyone online.”
TeamYouTube
(@TeamYouTube)You can help your favorite creators – you don’t have to be based in Australia to send your perspective on the draft code to ACCC, just send an email to [email protected] before 5:00 p.m. AEST on August 28, 2020.
We will also share other ways to get involved in the coming days.
Aug 17, 2020
Google told users that the code “will force us to provide you with a much worse Google and YouTube search, could lead to your data being passed on to big news companies, and endanger the free services you use in Australia.” .
On Monday, the ACCC responded to Google’s claims, saying: “Google will not be required to charge Australians for using its free services such as Google Search and YouTube, unless it chooses to do so. ”
Google retaliated on Tuesday, saying it “strongly disagrees and fears that our vision of the code has been represented in this way during a consultation phase.”
“We didn’t say the bill would require us to charge Australians for search and YouTube – we don’t intend to charge users for our free services,” Google said.
“What we have said is that research and YouTube, which are both free services, are under threat in Australia. This is because the code as written is unworkable. “
YouTube Creators
(@ytcreators)The YouTube you know and love is in danger in Australia. A proposed new law, the News Media Trading Code, could have a significant negative impact on creators in Australia. Your voice matters. → https://t.co/gR5Hf81DIH pic.twitter.com/oPnC6fi3If
Aug 17, 2020
YouTube told users the code “gives big news agencies an unfair advantage over everyone else online,” including creators, and encouraged them to email ACCC.
Nine Entertainment accused Google of misleading users about the code, and Free TV chief executive Bridget Fair said Google was trying to distract from the real issue, which was paying a fair price for content on news.
Facebook Australia, which also opposes the code, declined to comment.
