Google is ‘Holding a Gun to Our Head’ by Threatening The Removal of The Search Engine

• Sky News Australia
  Tech Guide Editor Stephen Fenech says it is “quite a serious threat” for Google to say it is considering the removal of its search engine in Australia in response to the proposed media code. “It would be like cutting their own leg off because search is a massive part of their revenue here in Australia, they earned $5 billion in 2019, $160 billion globally and it would be like cutting their nose off to spite their face,” he told Sky News host Chris Smith. Mr Fenech said Facebook and Google have a 70% market share of the advertising revenue and the news sites are looking for compensation to maintain themselves as Google is making money sharing their links. “This is quite a serious threat, it’s pretty drastic, and I think they’re trying to hold a gun to our head in these negotiations.”

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