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Trump administration labels Australia’s media bargaining laws ‘foreign extortion’
The Trump administration criticised Australia’s proposed media bargaining laws, calling them “extortion” and suggesting retaliatory trade measures. The laws would require Meta, Google, and TikTok to negotiate deals with Australian news publishers or face a levy, aiming to protect and reward media outlets for their work. While the Coalition and Greens are likely to support the plan, concerns remain about its impact on smaller publishers and the potential for retaliatory actions from the US.
Why becoming a YouTuber is not what you think
In this essay, Andres Acevedo examines why YouTube’s dominance, and the power of its parent company Google, is a problem for viewers, creators, and the open internet. YouTube is the world’s second most visited website and perhaps the closest thing the world has ever had to a global broadcaster. But it exists inside one of the most powerful corporate empires ever built: one that has systematically crushed competitors, exploited users, and now faces antitrust proceedings on both sides of the Atlantic. The essay features Acevedo’s interview with Nicholas Shaxson, investigative journalist, Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and co-author of Google’s Hidden Empire.
Trump administration labels Australia’s media bargaining laws ‘foreign extortion’
The Trump administration criticised Australia’s news bargaining incentive plan, calling it “foreign extortion” and a potential violation of trade agreements. The plan, which aims to make Meta, Google, and TikTok pay for news content, has also faced opposition from the tech industry and some political parties. Despite this, the plan is likely to pass with support from the Coalition and Greens.
Why Spotify has no button to filter out AI music
Spotify has no AI-music filter because labelling is technically, ethically and commercially difficult. AI use exists on a spectrum, detection risks false positives, and industry standards remain unsettled. Critics argue Spotify is avoiding transparency to protect growth and recommendation systems. Deezer already labels and limits AI tracks, while Apple and Spotify are testing disclosure features. Listeners increasingly want clearer labels, especially as AI-generated music floods streaming platforms.
Tech giants face new levy to pay for Australian news as Meta calls position ‘simply wrong’
The Albanese government proposes a 2.25% levy on local revenues for Google, Meta, and TikTok to compensate Australian media outlets. Google and Meta oppose the levy, arguing it’s unnecessary and unfairly targets them.
Tech giants face a new levy to pay for Australian news. What is the proposed model and how will it work?
The Albanese government has proposed the News Bargaining Incentive (NBI) to replace the News Media Bargaining Code (NMBC). The NBI will require large digital platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok to make commercial deals with Australian media outlets or face a 2.25% levy on local revenues. The revenue collected will be distributed to media outlets based on the number of full-time journalists they employ, with additional weighting for rural, regional, small, and marginalised community outlets.
You’re Not Watching the Show. You’re Watching the Clips.
In this episode of “Galaxy Brain,” Charlie Warzel talks with business writer Ed Elson about the rise of the “clip economy”—the idea that short video clips pulled from podcasts, livestreams, and other long-form content have become the dominant unit of online media, not just a promotional tool. Elson explains how figures like Andrew Tate pioneered armies of paid clippers to flood social platforms with content and how the viewership numbers on clips often perform better than the original shows. Warzel and Elson discuss what this means for legacy media organizations, as well as the broader societal costs of phone-driven attention erosion.
To be human is to live with friction. That’s something AI boosters will never understand | Alexander Hurst
AI’s pursuit of frictionlessness impoverishes the human experience, collapsing the space between what we say and what we know. This pursuit, driven by Silicon Valley’s vision of a seamless world, leads to a spiritual crisis and a devaluation of human labour. The author finds optimism in the growing backlash against AI’s dominance, believing it will lead to a resurgence of humanism
Iran's meme factory is using 'the weapons of their enemy' to embarrass Trump
Iran is using AI-generated memes and videos, particularly in the style of the Lego Movie, to criticise the US and Israel in the ongoing conflict. These videos, often mocking Donald Trump, are quickly produced and widely shared, influencing public opinion and setting the narrative of Iran as the underdog. While the US also engages in propaganda, its approach is criticised for lacking coherence and trivialising the war.
‘An element of exploitation’: the world of TikTok child skincare influencers
A Guardian investigation found hundreds of TikTok videos featuring children under 13, including toddlers, showcasing skincare routines. This trend raises concerns about the beauty industry’s reach and the lack of safeguards for child influencers, as many videos resemble advertising and promote unnecessary skincare products for young skin. Dermatologists warn that children don’t need complex skincare routines and that this trend fuels anxiety about appearance.
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