Meta, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn now face an Australian news law whether they carry news or not

Australia’s parliament passed the News Bargaining Incentive, levying 2.5% on platforms earning over A$250 million in Australian ad revenue, irrespective of news content. Meta, Google, TikTok and LinkedIn can reduce the tax by securing deals with at least eight local news outlets, with larger publishers counted at 150% of deal value and smaller ones at 200%, while no single deal may cover more than 25% of a platform’s liability. Uncollected levy amounts will fund a News Journalism Payments scheme that prioritises small and regional publishers.