What does Australia's news levy actually do?

The proposed levy requires large digital platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok to either pay for news content they feature or face a 2.25% tax on their local revenues. The goal is to fund Australian journalism.

Will this tax apply to AI models like ChatGPT?

Currently, no. The proposed legislation does not capture AI platforms, despite their reliance on news content for training data. This is a point of contention and may be addressed in future policy.

Can platforms avoid paying this tax?

Yes, platforms can avoid the levy by entering into commercial agreements with Australian news publishers to pay for news content. Significant offsets are offered for these deals.

💼 AI Business

Australia's News Levy: Is Big Tech Paying Its Fair Share?

Australia is turning up the heat on tech giants, demanding they pony up for the news that fuels their feeds. But is this a fair shake for journalism, or just a new digital services tax in disguise?

The AI Catchup Apr 28, 2026 5 min read

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking at a press conference regarding media reforms.

⚡ Key Takeaways

Australia is introducing a 2.25% levy on tech giants' local revenues to fund journalism. 𝕏
Platforms can avoid the levy by striking commercial deals with news publishers. 𝕏
AI platforms like OpenAI are currently excluded from the levy, a decision criticized by Google. 𝕏

Written by

Ibrahim Samil Ceyisakar

Founder and Editor in Chief. Technology entrepreneur tracking AI, digital business, and global market trends.

#AI regulation #australia news levy #google news #journalism funding #meta facebook #tiktok

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Originally reported by The Guardian - AI

⚡ Key Takeaways

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Ibrahim Samil Ceyisakar

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