Would encourage Google, Facebook to cooperate with government on news pay plan, says Australian PM

Canberra, Australia: Australia’s prime minister said Monday that he expected a “sensible outcome” to his government’s plans to make digital platforms pay for journalism after Facebook threatened to block Australian publishers and individuals from sharing news stories.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had discussed his proposed laws with “very senior-level executives” including Google’s chief executive, Sundar Pichai, last week.

Facebook’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Will Easton, warned last week that laws that would make the social network and Google compensate Australian media organisations could result in Facebook blocking Australian news content rather than pay for it.