Hi there,

It will come as no surprise that the team here at iStart have been watching the ACCC’s review of digital platforms, and the drafting of a code to enforce the platforms to pay for news content, closely. It is, afterall, a topic close to our hearts and one which like all media, we have a vested interest in.

It’s no secret that the media sector is in turmoil, with publications closing and hundreds of journalists made redundant or ‘furloughed’ while at the same time the platforms continue to post eye-watering growth and profits.

Social media platforms have been freeloading off the work of media organisations for years – cashing in on the (paid) work of journalists and leveraging algorithms to stir discussion, drive eyeballs and attract ever more advertising.

The new draft code, which if accepted would give Australian media bargaining power to secure fair payment for news content from, initially, Google and Facebook, isn’t about protecting media, it’s about correcting a market anomaly.

(And how about a test? Post the story via your Facebook encouraging the ACCC to go hard in combating FB's tactics. We'll see how the algorithms cope with the antifacebookism).

In other news:

The privacy conundrum – what we say is not what we do
Some light relief, courtesy of Trump's Tik Tok manoeuvres
Crimson Education’s plans to stem STEM shortages
Zespri’s bold new NZ$160 million digital horizon

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.com.au

MEDIA

Google, Facebook must pay for news

ACCC puts spotlight on media imbalances…

No news is free news, says the Australian Government, so Facebook and Google will have to pay local media companies for their content.

“News content brings significant benefits to the digital platforms.”

[Read more]

PRIVACY

Everyone wants better privacy online. Right?

So why are we so bad at protecting ourselves?…

We’re sure good at talking about security. Whenever there’s a new breach, a new data-deal scandal, or a nefarious new plot to track too much, we know it.

"Our study confirms the existence of the privacy paradox and also reveals the limited influence awareness raising exerts."

[Read more]

ONLY IN AMERICA

Trump says pay up on proposed Microsoft TikTok deal

A story of Trump, TikTok, Microsoft, data privacy, Covid and money…

US president Donald Trump is open to a deal which would see Microsoft buy TikTok – but says the US government should receive ‘substantial’ payment for the deal.

“They don’t have any rights unless we give it to them so if we give them the rights it has to come into this country.”

[Read more]

TECH EDUCATION

Crimson paints bold STEM future for A/NZ tech ed

Taking STEM online…

Jamie Beatson has a plan to elevate A/NZ’s STEM education, ensure students are ready for high paying tech careers – and provide a skilled workforce for local companies.

“We’re equipping this generation with the skills they’re going to need to be competitive in this tech-centric economy.”

[Read more]

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Deloitte, Zag, Sysdoc to take Zespri to new horizon

Kiwi consortium takes on up to $160m DX project…

Zespri has inked a deal which sees Deloitte leading a Kiwi-based consortium which includes Zag and Sysdoc, for the kiwifruit cooperative’s $160 million Horizon digital transformation programme.

“The Horizon Programme will help to deliver greater operating efficiency and effectiveness for decades to come.”

[Read more]

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