The Australian government is set to introduce updated media licensing legislation aimed at compelling large technology companies to strike more financial agreements with domestic news organizations. Under the proposed framework, digital platforms—including newcomers like TikTok and LinkedIn—will be required to establish deals with a minimum of eight media outlets, an increase from the previously mandated six. By broadening the scope of these requirements, the government intends to ensure that advertising revenue generated by user engagement on these platforms is more equitably distributed across a diverse range of local journalism providers.

As part of this revamped strategy, 5% of the total funds raised will be earmarked specifically for the Australian Associated Press (AAP). This non-profit newswire, which provides critical reporting and multimedia content to outlets nationwide, is being prioritized to safeguard public-interest journalism following its near-collapse in 2020. The updated regulations also include a fiscal cap, limiting any single deal to 25% of a platform’s total levy liability. These changes represent a significant effort by Canberra to sustain the local news ecosystem and hold major tech giants accountable for the content that drives their commercial success.