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by franciscop 1954 days ago
I certainly think they could withdraw Google Search, at least temporarily. Otherwise it sets a really bad precedent for other countries to do the same and start charging a Google tax. If however they remove search from Australia, other countries would be a lot more conscious before implementing something similar.

Nobody thought they would remove Google News in Spain back in 2014, but they certainly did. Sure it's not the same scale and all, but if my memory serves me right it was kinda unthinkable back then.

"It's a small step but Google have been profiting from "borrowed" content for the best part of a decade."

It's not. Website, cafe owners, etc. literally put their content out there to be discoverable. Otherwise they'd just put a /robots.txt or not make a website at all! What is stopping the new sites to add a blocking `/robots.txt` if they don't want to be listed? The problem is that Google is massively profitable and everyone wants a piece of the cake.

(I'm talking about normal Google or Maps search, the snippet/previews where they cannibalize the website's content is a different topic and I'd agree with you there)
2 comments
twelvechairs 1954 days ago
Yes Google has to do a ban now otherwise they look like paper tigers. That said it won't last as Australia's still a profitable market and Google certainly doesn't want to encourage others to challenge their monopoly anywhere.
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username90 1954 days ago
I don't think that Australia is more than 2% of Googles revenue, USA tend to be over represented in revenue. I don't think 2% is worth giving in for, I mean they even refused to enter China which is a much bigger market.
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rstuart4133 1953 days ago
> I certainly think they could withdraw Google Search

Why would they go that far? At worst, shut down google.com.au or redirect to google.com (ie, a Non-Australian site).

It's hardly their fault if people persist in using Google even when they don't operate in the country any more, surely? If the Australia government wants to create a great firewall of Australia to ban Google, surely they should do it at their expense, not Googles?

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