Google saying they might remove their search engine from Australia

[Oceanbliss]

au.finance.yahoo.com/news/google-threatens-to-pull-search-from-australia-234006742.html

Australian government wants Google and Facebook to pay publishers for content. Fair enough Google has recently negotiated an agreement with France. So, clearly Google is willing to pay publishers, but Australia and Google negotiations aren’t going so well. I don’t want to lose Google and feel isolated from the rest of the world. AIBU to be upset at Australia digging its heals in, not finding a workable compromise and accusing Google of making threats? Or do tech companies have too much power? With a year of lockdowns and social isolation I really relied on the internet to connect with others.

YABU. Get a good VPN and you can access any service from anywhere.

The main downside I can see would be restricted access to its other services such as YouTube. But I hate YouTube and find it unwieldy and non user friendly so I dream of a real competitor ending their monopoly!

I’m in Aus too and I’ve been reading this today, initially I thought Google was bluffing and it would never be allowed to happen but now I’m not so sure. I’m more worried about gmail, Google docs etc and the impact on them.
ScoMo and his woeful diplomacy is a worry

DileenODoubts: ScoMo and his woeful diplomacy is a worry

Yes, I agree with that.

I’m worried about gmail too.

@Oceanbliss

I’m worried about gmail too.

Presumably this will be separated because it will impact businesses?

Just to restart this thread looks like facebook have!?