1 month ago
The fallout of nan Albanese government’s projected News Bargaining Incentive feels predictable. The tech oligarchs will apt impulse Donald Trump to punish Australia for nan government’s efforts to protect publishers from nan financial harm caused by nan large tech platforms’ usage of news contented from established media companies.
It is nan aforesaid playbook utilized by nan large US pharmaceutical companies to conflict backmost against Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and akin programs successful different countries. Australia has truthful acold dodged overmuch of Trump’s tariffs connected medicines, but Trumps’ desire to punish US waste and acquisition partners is unwavering.
Trump’s contempt for mainstream media companies successful nan United States is explosive. In his 2016 statesmanlike campaign, he labelled nan awesome media companies “the force of nan people” – a statement correct retired of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Trump has called immoderate reporting that varies from nan lines coming retired of his and his property secretary’s rima arsenic “fake news.” That word has now go for immoderate politicians worldwide nan go-to denial of charismatic media reporting.
We could spot Trump’s anger astatine nan media moreover aft nan effort connected his life, and that of others, successful his bonzer question and reply pinch CBS’ 60 Minutes nan time aft nan White House Correspondents dinner. After discussing what Trump saw and felt, Norah O’Donnell of CBS quoted from nan alleged shooter’s manifesto connected why he hated officials who were allegedly progressive pinch Jeffrey Epstein. Trump erupted astatine O’Donnell.
“I was waiting for you to publication that, because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people,” Trump said. “Yeah he did constitute that, I’m not a rapist … I publication nan manifesto. You know, he’s a sick person. You shouldn’t beryllium reference that connected 60 Minutes, you’re a disgrace, but spell ahead, let’s decorativeness nan interview.”
Trump’s anger astatine mainstream media is palpable. He does not hesitate to onslaught and intimidate overseas media. Trump has sued nan BBC for defamation and is seeking $US10bn successful damages for its documentary connected nan January 6 insurrection astatine nan Capitol.
Earlier this year, nan ABC’s John Lyons asked Trump successful a media scrum connected nan South Lawn of nan White House astir Trump family business deals and finances. “Where are you from?” Trump asked. Lyons said, nan ABC. “Oh, nan Australian – you’re hurting Australia,” Trump said. “In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very overmuch correct now, and they want to get on pinch me.”
Trump’s disdain for media is bully news for nan tech bros arsenic they hole to termination disconnected nan media taxation proposals and nan payments that are to beryllium made to mainstream Australian media companies.
In discussing why this inaugural is truthful important, Albanese said, “Journalists are nan lifeblood of Australia’s media sector, playing a captious domiciled successful keeping communities informed astir nan news that matters to them.
“Local news matters to section communities and these stories can’t beryllium told without Australian journalists. My authorities will ever backmost Australian journalists and Australian news.”
Which is precisely what Trump does not do pinch US media companies.
In nan people of nan Iran war, Trump has spoken retired astatine slightest doubly successful his “disappointment” that Australia has not strapped up to support and subordinate pinch nan US successful nan embargo connected Iran that nan US has imposed successful nan Persian Gulf. At a furniture gathering successful March, Trump said pinch respect to nan closure of nan Strait of Hormuz, “Australia was not great. I was a small amazed by Australia.”
Trump doubled down successful April. “I’m not happy pinch Australia because they were not location erstwhile we asked them to beryllium there. They were not there, having to do pinch Hormuz, nan Hormuz strait.”
This intends nan doorway to nan Oval Office is wide unfastened for nan tech oligarchs to lobby nan president connected this issue. It will not beryllium a dense lift.
The 3 companies astir straight affected by nan projected caller media taxation are Meta, Google and TikTok. They are deeply invested successful nan Trump presidency. Meta has committed to put US$600bn successful nan US successful exertion and AI for wide infrastructure and workforce description . Google has committed $68bn to information centres and AI infrastructure. In nan United States, TikTok was restructured, and its algorithm is controlled by Oracle, headed by Larry Ellison, who together pinch his boy has acquired Paramount and CBS; TikTok’s CEO met pinch Trump arsenic nan woody for its early was finalised.
At nan White House meal for nan authorities sojourn of King Charles, guests included Ruth Porat of Alphabet and Google; Dina Powell McCormick, president and vice chair of Meta; and David Ellison, heir to nan Oracle fortune.
The tech companies lobbying successful Washington is exceptionally effective. They will beryllium each complete nan Senate committee connected overseas relations erstwhile it holds hearings to corroborate David Bart arsenic nan caller US ambassador to Australia. We tin almost perceive it now: “Mr Bart, wherever do you guidelines connected nan caller media taxation projected by nan Australian government?”
