Making sense of Australia's standoff with Big Tech (with Bronwyn Howell)

Explain to Shane

Facing a new law requiring social media firms to pay Australian news providers for their content, Facebook and Google had notably different responses. After expressing brief opposition to the new policy, Google was willing to comply; on the other hand, Facebook blocked all news content on its Australian platform for two days — though later reached a compromise with the government. Why did the two companies approach the issue so differently, and what will Australia’s law mean for the future of tech regulation?

To offer first-hand perspective from “down under,” AEI Adjunct Scholar Bronwyn Howell joins the podcast from Wellington, New Zealand, where she is a professor of business and government at Victoria University of Wellington. In addition to her recent AEI pieces on Australia’s social media dilemma, Bronwyn writes frequently about global telecoms issues and overseas regulation of Big Tech. On this episode, she shares her insights on the regulatory dilemma Australia has unraveled — both for itself and the rest of the world.