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Jakarta (beritajatim.com) – Press Council highlighted Google’s decision to block news content from Canada in response to plans to implement Bill C-18, a new regulation that the Canadian government will implement to increase economic fairness between news organizations and digital platforms.

Member of the Press Council, Atmaji Sapto Anggoroconsiders the Canadian case of Bill C-18 as a phenomenon in the digital world. Similar cases have also occurred in France and Australia, where local governments have created regulations of almost the same nature to encourage digital platforms to increase the bargaining position of news publishing companies.

“The events in France, Australia and Canada show that the world needs a new balance,” Sapto said when contacted. Beritajatim.com via the WhatsApp chat application, Thursday (23/2/2023).

In the past, Sapto explains, global digital platforms such as Google and others were mainly used as search engines. Along with the discovery and development of technology keywords And marking for search optimization, there is revenue potential through advertising offers.

But when there is commercial potential and dominance appears, the algorithm does not open properly. fair, This breeds injustice. Sapto believes that this is because digital platforms, intentionally or not, use online media as a Trojan horse for one-sided purposes.

“Google should respect Canada’s regulations. “Even if they secretly like but reject content that doesn’t sell (low traffic) and claim that Bill C-18 is reserved for big media oligarchs, these are the only reasons that can really be discussed,” he said.

ALSO READ: Google blocks some news content from Canada

Sapto also explained that Bill C-18 prepared by the Canadian government actually introduced a new negotiating framework to support the information sector. Faced with the overwhelming dominance of digital platforms, it is normal that content receives fair compensation.

Moreover, so far, the algorithm, especially Google’s, does not adhere to the values ​​put forward by journalism or the code of ethics. (code of Conduct) that apply in each country. Thus, Google can direct (conduct) a situation that is not conducive because it places the data with a one-sided relevance based solely on the validity of the platform.

“This is where the need for compensation for use also requires the responsibility to present oneself to the public as a party to the law,” Sapto stressed.

On the other hand, Sapto warned that platforms would gain nothing if media companies shut down Google’s Internet Protocol. But with regulations like those adopted by Canada, there should be win-win solutions for both parties so that their respective sustainability is maintained.

In Bill C-18, Sapto explained, it is also regulated to meet the requirements. A news organization must be a qualified journalism organization or meet other legal criteria, including operating and regularly employing two or more journalists in Canada.

“This should not be a reason for Google to unilaterally shut down Canadian media content,” he said.

ALSO READ: This is Google’s statement regarding the proposed executive order on sustainable media

Observing Google’s attitude, Sapto said that the Press Council, as a party involved in developing regulations in the Indonesian context, saw an interesting and valuable lesson in this. Even though the conditions that arise are not quite the same between Indonesia and Canada.

“Because here, the platforms, including Google, are quite cooperative and willing to work fairly with Indonesian media,” Sapto said.

In addition, Sapto said that the Press Council had submitted to the government a draft of sustainable media regulation. According to him, three drafts were submitted, but the Press Council’s draft was only aimed at opening data to the public with the mutual consent of voters.

“We see that voters have an important and critical role that can strengthen the presidential decree project regarding the responsibility of digital platforms to support quality journalism,” Sapto said. [beq]