Relations are strained between the Australian government and the behemoths Google and Facebook.
A "
code of conduct
", wanted by the Australian government, will force them to negotiate a remuneration with the Australian press groups when they resume their content on the "news feed" for Facebook and searches for Google.
In order to show their disagreement, the two US giants have threatened to degrade their main services in Australia if this code is adopted.
Google even threatens to cut a half-word cut off access to its search engine in the country.
An opportunity that Microsoft seized to propose a "plan B" on the island-continent and try to impose its Bing search engine.
Pressure from Google and Facebook
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison the possibility of developing Microsoft's Bing search engine if Google were to shut down its own.
“
When I spoke to him, Satya Nadella was quite confident,
” the prime minister said, declining to say more.
"
We just want the rules in the digital world to be the same as those in the real world
," the senior official added.
According to the daily
The Australian
, Bing occupies only 3.7% of market share in this territory, against 95% for Google.
Read also: Washington urges Australia to give up charging Facebook and Google
For now, only Google and Facebook are affected by this code, although Australia reserves the right to impose its new law on other platforms.
Microsoft's MSN service, which refers to Australian news, could one day be affected.
“
With respect to the current controversy over a possible code of conduct governing Google and Facebook, Microsoft is not directly involved and we do not wish to comment on the ongoing process,
” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement.
No intimidation for the Australian government
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg reached out to Australian Finance Minister Josh Frydenberg last week to discuss the code and its consequences.
The latter described
this exchange
on
ABC
as "
very constructive
" but that he "did
not convince him to go back
".
Facebook has warned that it could prevent Internet users on the island continent from sharing Australian information on its platform.
“
What I do know is that the media should be paid for the content.
(...) We are prepared to face the digital giants
, ”says Josh Frydenberg.
The code provides that in case of refusal to negotiate or apply the decision taken by a third-party arbitrator will lead to a fine equivalent to 6 million euros.