Microsoft is set to step in with its Bing search engine should Google make good on its promise to cut service to Australia, the country’s prime minister revealed Monday.
Speaking at the National Press Club of Australia, PM Scott Morrison said he has spoken to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who is confident Bing could meet the needs of Australians should Google exit, the Associated Press reported.
Morrison maintained that it is important for Australia to set rules that are right for its people. Having a news environment in Australia that is sustainable and supported commercially is vital to the functioning of democracy, he added.
Microsoft, in a statement said, “We recognize the importance of a vibrant media sector and public interest journalism in a democracy, and we recognize the challenges the media sector has faced over many years through changing business models and consumer preferences.”
This may be compromised, since Google has already cut a deal in France to pay publishers there based on criteria set by Google, such as contribution to general discussion, publication volume and audience size. If Australia sticks to this, it could have another global consequence for Google. “By losing Australia, it could stiffen people’s spines in other parts of the world,” Gold said. “Regulators see Australia fighting back so they will too.”
