Google has hinted at the possibility of removing news articles from European Union-based publications from its search results. This dramatic gesture, outlined in a blog post titled “More Data About News Results in the EU,” is ostensibly a response to the European Copyright Directive, a piece of legislation that compels tech giants to compensate news outlets for the use of their content.
The blog post, couched in the bureaucratic language beloved by corporate giants, details Google’s “Extended News Previews” program, a curious-sounding initiative that offers readers a glimpse of a news article before hitting a paywall. This, Google argues, is a public service, a way to keep Europeans informed. But the centerpiece of the blog post is a test, a pilot program designed to assess the impact of EU news publishers on the search experience. Google assures us that only 1% of users in certain EU countries will be affected by this test. Yet, the underlying message is clear: Google is willing to play hardball.
The irony, of course, is that Google profits handsomely from news content. Every time a user clicks on a news link, Google gleans valuable data and advertising revenue. The European Copyright Directive is an attempt to redress this imbalance, to ensure that news organizations are fairly compensated for the work they produce. Google’s response, however, suggests a sense of entitlement, a belief that it has a divine right to European news content without having to pay for it.
One can’t help but wonder if Google’s threat is a bluff, a carefully choreographed maneuver designed to pressure European lawmakers into backing down. After all, Google is the undisputed king of search, and a world without Google Search is a world most Europeans would rather not contemplate. But even if Google follows through on its threat, the impact is likely to be minimal. European users will find alternative ways to access their news, and Google’s reputation as a champion of a free and open internet will suffer a significant blow.
The truth is, Google and the news media need each other. Google needs the constant churn of fresh content to keep its users engaged, and news organizations need Google’s vast reach to disseminate their work. This latest episode is a reminder of the ongoing tension between these two powerful forces. One can only hope that a modus vivendi can be reached, a solution that respects the rights of both content creators and content distributors.
