Sushil Modi interview: ‘Google is depriving traditional media of its revenue share’

BJP Rajya Sabha Member Sushil Modi speaks to The Indian Express about getting tech giants like Google and Facebook to compensate conventional media for utilizing their content material.
What are the considerations you raised in Parliament at the moment about Google and Facebook?
Traditional media goes by its worst section financially within the latest historical past — first due to the pandemic and now due to giants like Google that are consuming into their revenues. Traditional media make investments 1000’s of crores… they gather and confirm the information and disseminate it. Google is utilizing this content material and incomes some huge cash by commercial revenues. This is depriving the standard media of its income share.
How do you recommend the federal government ought to handle this?
About two weeks in the past, Australia handed a code below which these tech giants are compelled to share their income with print and digital media. These platforms tried to retaliate by making an attempt to dam content material from Australia however they must relent and negotiate with the federal government. India ought to examine the Australian mannequin and draft an identical legislation or code…
You talked about Facebook blocking content material in retaliation. Do you assume this was a warning shot to lawmakers elsewhere?
They tried however couldn’t succeed. They needed to give up and are available to the negotiation desk. The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken to the leaders of India, UK and Canada. All democratic international locations ought to examine Australia’s expertise…

Do you assume will probably be simpler for India to get the tech giants to fall in line given the dimensions of our market?
A priority has been set. We have the latecomers benefit and we now have the chance to be taught from Australia’s expertise… when it comes to Internet customers, we’re Number 2 on the planet. That does put us better off.
The tech giants have argued towards income sharing on the bottom that newspapers can now attain a a lot bigger viewers due to Google and Facebook… Even if their viewers has elevated, their income pie is shrinking… enhance in readers will not be translating into enhance in advert income which is essential for his or her survival.