World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee says Australia's plan to force digital giants to pay media outlets for news content is "unworkable" and undermines a "fundamental principle" of the internet.
Canberra is pursuing world-first laws that would require Google and Facebook to compensate Australian news organisations, or pay millions of dollars in fines.
The aggressive move to check the tech giants' power has prompted blowback from the US firms, with Facebook warning Australians could be blocked from sharing articles on its "News Feed", while Google has been experimenting with hiding local news in searches.
Berners-Lee, a computer scientist who created the web in 1989, said in a submission to an Australian Senate inquiry he is "concerned that the code risks breaching a fundamental principle of the web by requiring payment for linking between certain content online".
"The ability to link freely -- meaning without limitations regarding the content of the linked site and without monetary fees -- is fundamental to how the web operates, how it has flourished till present, and how it will continue to grow in decades to come," he wrote.
In the submission dated January 18, Berners-Lee said he supports the need for publishers to be "properly rewarded" for their work but "constraints on the use of hypertext links are not the correct way to achieve this goal".
"If this precedent were followed elsewhere it could make the web unworkable around the world," he wrote.
"I therefore respectfully urge the committee to remove this mechanism from the code."
The Office of the US Trade Representative has also urged Australia to abandon its "burdensome" plan, saying there could be "long-lasting negative consequences" for consumers and companies.
Canberra's initiative has been closely watched around the globe, as news media worldwide suffer in an increasingly digital economy where big tech firms overwhelmingly capture advertising revenue.
The planned legislation has received widespread support from Australian media organisations, many of which have been hit hard by a drop in revenue during the coronavirus pandemic.
The digital giants have also made submissions to the inquiry, with Facebook urging a return to the voluntary code of conduct first mooted by Canberra.
"Facebook remains willing to pay Australian news publishers for news content made available on Facebook, as long as it is subject to genuine commercial considerations," it said.
Google has said some revisions to the draft proposal have improved the law but called for several further amendments to the rules.
Australia plans to introduce the new rules this year, with the Senate committee set to hold public hearings from Friday.
READ MORE: Can Australia force Google, Facebook pay for news? Here's what you need to know
AFP RELAXNEWS
Wed Jan 20 2021
![World Wide Web inventor opposes Australia's news payment plan World Wide Web inventor opposes Australia's news payment plan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/81611105835_TimBernersLee.jpg)
World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee has described Australia's plan to force digital giants to pay media outlets for news content as 'unworkable' - AFP/File
Jualan penyaman udara naik mendadak di negara Balkan
Menetap di negara sejuk, mereka tidak pernah terfikir memasang penyaman udara di dalam rumah memandangkan musim panas bukanlah setiap hari. Namun, cuaca panas melampau membuatkan mereka bertukar fikiran.
![Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61706688348_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Kerajaan Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan Masjid Al-Aqsa oleh ekstremis Zionis Israel pada 13 Ogos.
![Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723653359_TBMOKHTAR.jpg)
Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham
Ayah kepada penyanyi dan Youtubers Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar reda dengan pemergian anak lelakinya walaupun itu bukan pengakhiran yang beliau harapkan.
Ahli perniagaan diberkas, terlibat dalam aktiviti kumpulan mafia
Seorang ahli perniagaan Itali ditangkap di bandar Natal, Brazil pada selasa.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Srettha hormati keputusan mahkamah
Srettha Thavisin menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Perlembagaan Thailand yang memecatnya daripada jawatan Perdana Menteri.
Lahir empat hari lepas, bayi kembar maut angkara serangan rejim Zionis
Kembar lelaki diberikan nama Asser manakala Ayssel pula nama diberi buat kembar perempuan, kedua-duanya lahir pada 10 Ogos lepas.
Lelaki tikam ibu saudara direman tujuh hari
Seorang lelaki yang disyaki menikam ibu saudaranya di kepala dengan gunting, semalam direman selama tujuh hari hingga 21 Ogos ini.
PN senarai pendek tiga calon, akan diumum selepas PRK Nenggiri
Perikatan Nasional telah menyenarai pendek tiga calon untuk bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 28 September depan.
![10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu 10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41722145972_KebakaranGeneric.jpg)
10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu
Menurut PGOB kesemua mangsa yang cedera telah dikejarkan ke Hospital Bintulu untuk rawatan lanjut.
![Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61713736324_HusseinOmarKhan.jpg)
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar yang ditemukan di Sungai Klang petang tadi dibawa ke Unit Forensik Hospital Shah Alam (HSA) untuk urusan bedah siasat.
![Peniaga rugi hampir RM150,000 beli Mercedes Benz dalam talian Peniaga rugi hampir RM150,000 beli Mercedes Benz dalam talian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720420389_FBScam.jpg)
Peniaga rugi hampir RM150,000 beli Mercedes Benz dalam talian
Mangsa telah melihat iklan penjualan kereta jenis Mercedes Benz GLA 200 AMG Sport 4MATIC 1.3A melalui Facebook dan menekan pautan yang tertera.
![Orang ramai diminta rujuk buku panduan JaPen mengenai tatacara betul kibar Jalur Gemilang Orang ramai diminta rujuk buku panduan JaPen mengenai tatacara betul kibar Jalur Gemilang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/61689927572_TBJalurGemilang.jpg)
Orang ramai diminta rujuk buku panduan JaPen mengenai tatacara betul kibar Jalur Gemilang
JaPen meminta orang ramai merujuk buku panduan 'Bendera Kita Jalur Gemilang' bagi mengetahui tatacara mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang.
![PM Anwar terima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi SPA PM Anwar terima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi SPA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723473647_TBANWAR.jpg)
PM Anwar terima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi SPA
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini menerima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA) Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus.
![Anwar terima kunjungan KSN baharu Anwar terima kunjungan KSN baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723466288_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Anwar terima kunjungan KSN baharu
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menerima kunjungan Ketua Setiausaha Negara (KSN) yang baharu Datuk Seri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar di bangunan Perdana Putra, Putrajaya hari ini.
![Kadar kemalangan tinggi pengguna motosikal: PM zahir kebimbangan Kadar kemalangan tinggi pengguna motosikal: PM zahir kebimbangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81722957381_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Kadar kemalangan tinggi pengguna motosikal: PM zahir kebimbangan
Anwar menzahirkan kebimbangan terhadap kadar kemalangan tinggi dalam kalangan pengguna motosikal yang berkait dengan kelemahan penguatkuasaan undang-undang.
![Malaysia harap rundingan damai di Sudan berjaya dicapai - PM Anwar Malaysia harap rundingan damai di Sudan berjaya dicapai - PM Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41722957005_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Malaysia harap rundingan damai di Sudan berjaya dicapai - PM Anwar
Malaysia menyuarakan harapan agar rundingan yang sedang diusahakan untuk mewujudkan gencatan senjata dan kestabilan berkekalan di Sudan, berjaya dicapai.
![Individu ceroboh landasan kereta api di Tanah Merah, KTMB tidak kompromi Individu ceroboh landasan kereta api di Tanah Merah, KTMB tidak kompromi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/51674736101_TBLOGOKTMB.jpg)
Individu ceroboh landasan kereta api di Tanah Merah, KTMB tidak kompromi
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) tidak akan berkompromi terhadap individu yang menceroboh landasan kereta api dan tindakan itu boleh dikenakan denda RM500.
![Laporan permohonan maaf Meta kepada PM Anwar dapat perhatian dunia Arab Laporan permohonan maaf Meta kepada PM Anwar dapat perhatian dunia Arab](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722397181_IsmailHaniyeh.jpg)
Laporan permohonan maaf Meta kepada PM Anwar dapat perhatian dunia Arab
Laporan Meta Platforms memohon maaf kepada Anwar Ibrahim mendapat liputan meluas media di negara Arab dan berbahasa Arab.
![PM terima permohonan maaf Meta - Fahmi PM terima permohonan maaf Meta - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51722417455_TBPOSTREMOVE.jpg)
PM terima permohonan maaf Meta - Fahmi
Anwar Ibrahim sudah menerima permohonan maaf daripada Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) berhubung tindakan menurunkan kandungan berkaitan isu Palestin di akaun Facebook dan Instagram milik beliau.
![Meta tidak bersedia jawab isu teknikal - Fahmi Meta tidak bersedia jawab isu teknikal - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71722942360_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Meta tidak bersedia jawab isu teknikal - Fahmi
Penjelasan mereka berhubung isu semasa siaran langsung Himpunan Pembebasan Palestin pada Ahad, juga tidak dapat diterima.