GOOGL - Google threatens to disable search in Australia over proposed news-payment law

As Google ([[GOOG]], [[GOOGL]]) is making peace with paying news publishers in France, it's escalating the battle elsewhere. It's threatened to disable its search engine in Australia if a proposed law passes forcing payment to local publishers. Google and Australia have been in a stand-off over the issue for months, but Google now says the law is "unworkable." And cutting off the search engine would mean turning off the spigot to 94% of online searches, according to the competition regulator. The law also targets Facebook (FB), which also opposes the legislation. Its intent is to protect local publishers, which includes Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. ([[NWS]], [[NWSA]]). “We don’t respond to threats,” Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison says. “Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That’s done in our parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia.”

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Google threatens to disable search in Australia over proposed news-payment law