MSFT - Microsoft pitches Bing as Google threatens search engine Down Under

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison has finally spoken with Alphabet ([[GOOG]], [[GOOGL]]) CEO Sundar Pichai amid tensions over the country's media bill that was introduced in December. The legislation would force digital platforms companies to pay for news content in feeds or search results, meaning Google would have to shell out cash to local media outlets and publishers for linking to their content. In response, Google has threatened to shut its search engine in Australia and has been lobbying strongly against the proposal.Transcript from the call: "I thought it was a constructive meeting," said Morrison. "I have been able to send them the best possible signals that should give them a great encouragement to engage with the process and we discussed some of the specifics of elements of the code. But at the end of the day, they understand that Australia sets the rules for how these things operate. And

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Microsoft pitches Bing as Google threatens search engine Down Under