Google should pay millions for Swiss news, says study
Keystone/ennio Leanza
Alphabet Inc's Google should in theory pay Swiss publishers at least CHF154 million ($166 million) per year for their online news content as part of any negotiated deals, according to a new study.
This content was published on
3 minutes
Keystone-SDA/24Heures/sb
Español
es
Google debería pagar millones por las noticias suizas, según un estudio
News organisations, which have been losing ad revenue to online aggregators such as Google and Facebook, have complained for years about the tech companies using stories in search results or other features without payment. In recent years Google has started paying some news agencies and publishers in certain countries to publish their content.
According to a study carried out on behalf of the German-language publishers’ association Schweizer Medien, published by the 24Heures/Tribune de Genève newspapers on Friday, 86% of people in Switzerland use Google to obtain online information. And media content helps attract and maintain most users on the platform, the study found.
When using Google, over half of users (53%) stay on Google’s ecosystem and do not click further on links to the publication’s website – they are generally satisfied with the information appearing on the Google search page.
The researchers from consulting firm Fehr Advice, Federal Technology Institute ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich estimate that Google should pay Swiss publishers CHF154 million as fair compensation for the use of their news content.
The calculation was partly based on the amount of advertising revenue Google earns from searches.
Google currently does not pay Swiss publishers for their news content. But following the example of the European Union, the Swiss government wants this to change. A project should be put out for consultation in Switzerland soon.
Last May Google agreed to pay over 300 publishers in Germany, France and four other European Union countries for their news and said it planned to roll out a tool to make it easier for others to sign up too.
The move followed the adoption of landmark EU copyright rules four years ago that require Google and other online platforms to pay musicians, performers, authors, news publishers and journalists for using their work.
Google said last month it was testing blocking some Canadian users’ access to news as a potential response to the government’s “Online News Act,” which is expected to be passed into law. The law, which was introduced last year, created rules for platforms like Meta’s Facebook and Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers.
Ottawa’s proposal is similar to a ground-breaking law that Australia passed in 2021, which too triggered threats from Google and Facebook to curtail their services. Both eventually struck deals with Australian media companies after a series of amendments to the legislation were offered.
Majority of young Swiss well-trained, army fitness test reveals
This content was published on
More than half of young Swiss men and women are considered well-trained, with around 80% meeting the federal government's exercise recommendations, according to the Armed Forces 2023 fitness test.
Italian consulate to relocate to ‘Casa d’Italia’ in Zurich
This content was published on
The Italian state is renovating the "Casa d'Italia" in Zurich's Kreis 4 district, with plans to move the Consulate General from its current location on Tödistrasse in District 2 to this historic building.
Swiss companies maintain financial stability amid European struggles
This content was published on
Swiss companies continue to demonstrate financial robustness compared to their European counterparts, although corporate restructuring activities have increased in recent months.
This content was published on
Unknown assailants detonated an ATM in canton Vaud early Sunday morning, causing extensive damage to the building. The perpetrators fled the scene and remain at large.
Kudelski Group to sell Skidata division to Assa Abloy
This content was published on
The Kudelski Group is selling its Skidata division to the Swedish manufacturer of locking and security systems Assa Abloy.
Tragic weekend in Swiss waters: three bodies recovered
This content was published on
Swiss authorities recovered three bodies from local waters over the weekend, with one incident occurring in Zurich and two in Zug.
Lake Parade in Geneva attracts over 100,000 people
This content was published on
The 22nd Lake Parade and the Lake Sensation in Geneva attracted over 100,000 people in summery weather on Saturday. There were no major incidents at either event.
Graubünden storm causes significant economic damage, prompting support measures
This content was published on
The recent storm in Misox, in canton Graubünden, has resulted in severe economic damage, affecting SMEs, tourism, and agricultural land.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss media stories among targets of firm that ‘eliminates past’ for corrupt clients
This content was published on
A global disinformation investigation reveals the dubious tactics used by a Spanish-owned, Swiss-based reputation firm to scrub clients' pasts.
Tech giants and digital shifts continue to erode Swiss media
This content was published on
Growing media concentration, privatisation of societal debates, lost advertising revenues: this is the 2019 Quality of the Media Yearbook.
EU parliament approves contentious online copyright reform
This content was published on
The decision was heavily lobbied both by publishers and free speech advocates. Switzerland is not yet directly implicated.
Google: 20 years of media and advertising disruption
This content was published on
As Google celebrates its 20th birthday, SRF asked experts how the company has influenced the media and advertising landscape in Switzerland.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.