Australia moves to tax Meta, Google and TikTok to fund newsrooms

[AZProgressive]

April 29, 20261:20 AM ET

By The Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia has proposed taxing digital giants Meta, Google and TikTok a proportion of their revenue to pay for news reporters.

The government released draft legislation Tuesday it intends to introduce to Parliament by July 2 that would create a financial incentive for the social media companies to strike deals with news organizations to pay for journalism.

The platforms' criticisms included that the proposal was a "digital services tax" that misunderstood the evolving advertising industry and would fail to deliver a sustainable news sector.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a monetary value needed to be attached to journalists' work.

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/29/g-s1-119142/australia-moves-to-tax-meta-google-and-tiktok-to-fund-newsrooms

[NJCher]

1. Yes!

Eom

[Clouds Passing]

2. To pay for independent journalism but not dictate it's contents.

[SergeStorms]

3. Fantastic idea!

Tax all social media heavily along with raising all corporate taxes. No more tax relief for the Epstein class.

[Dulcinea]

4. I love this idea!

I wish we could do that in this country!

[dave99]

5. It is always another Country, never the United States leading. Says alot.

[canetoad]

6. I could definitely

Get behind that. Great idea.