The Australian government has introduced a draft legislative framework known as the News Bargaining Incentive (NBI), designed to secure financial contributions from major digital platforms for the use of local journalistic content.

澳洲政府提出了一項名為「新聞議價激勵計劃」(NBI) 的立法草案，旨在要求大型數位平台為使用本地新聞內容而支付資金。

The NBI proposes a levy of up to 2.25% on the total Australian revenue of designated digital platforms, specifically Meta, Google, and TikTok. This fiscal obligation may be reduced to 1.5% should a platform secure a requisite number of commercial agreements with news organizations, or eliminated entirely through comprehensive licensing deals. The resulting revenue, estimated between 200 million and 250 million Australian dollars, is intended for distribution to media outlets proportional to their journalistic workforce. This measure seeks to address a systemic decline in newsroom viability, evidenced by the loss of over 19,500 journalism positions since 2008 due to the erosion of traditional advertising revenue.

NBI 建議對指定的數位平台（即 Meta、Google 與 TikTok）在澳洲的總營收徵收最高 2.25% 的稅款。若平台能與新聞機構達成足夠數量的商業協議，此項財務義務可降低至 1.5%，或透過全面的授權協議而完全免除。預計產生的 2 億至 2.5 億澳幣收入，將根據新聞機構的記者人數比例進行分發。此舉旨在解決新聞室生存能力系統性下降的問題，事實證明自 2008 年起，由於傳統廣告收入萎縮，已有超過 19,500 個新聞職位消失。

Stakeholder positioning reveals a profound divergence in perspective. The Australian administration, represented by Communications Minister Anika Wells and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, characterizes the measure as an equitable mechanism to ensure platforms contribute to the content that drives their profitability. Conversely, Meta has formally condemned the proposal, asserting that the levy is economically incoherent and discriminatory. Meta contends that the exclusion of entities such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Snapchat creates an uneven competitive landscape. Furthermore, the corporation argues that the NBI fosters an artificial dependency on government subsidies, thereby disincentivizing the structural innovation necessary for long-term media sustainability.

利益相關者的立場顯示出深刻的分歧。由通訊部長 Anika Wells 與總理 Anthony Albanese 代表的澳洲政府，將此措施視為一種公平的機制，確保平台為推動其獲利的內容做出貢獻。相反，Meta 正式譴責該提案，聲稱此稅款在經濟上不合理且具有歧視性。Meta 主張，將 OpenAI、Microsoft 與 Snapchat 等實體排除在外，造成了不公平的競爭環境。此外，該公司認為 NBI 會促成對政府補貼的人為依賴，從而削弱媒體長期永續發展所需的結構性創新動力。

From a geopolitical standpoint, the dispute has escalated into a potential trade conflict. Meta asserts that the NBI constitutes a violation of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United States, specifically the clause requiring 'treatment no less favourable' for American enterprises. This tension is compounded by the current U.S. administration's scrutiny of Australian regulatory practices, including a congressional committee's inquiry into the Australian internet regulator regarding the alleged censorship of American free speech. These developments suggest that the NBI may serve as a catalyst for broader diplomatic friction between the two allies.

從地緣政治角度來看，這場爭議已升級為潛在的貿易衝突。Meta 主張 NBI 違反了澳洲與美國之間的雙邊自由貿易協定，特別是要求美國企業獲得「不相下之待遇」的條款。加上目前美國政府對澳洲監管做法的審查，包括國會委員會就澳洲網路監管機構涉嫌審查美國言論自由而展開的調查，使緊張局勢更加嚴重。這些發展表明，NBI 可能成為兩個盟友之間更廣泛外交摩擦的催化劑。

The draft legislation is scheduled for parliamentary introduction later this year, while the dispute between the Australian government and U.S.-based tech firms remains unresolved.

該立法草案預計將於今年稍後提交國會，而澳洲政府與美國科技公司之間的爭議仍未解決。