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Concern towards removal of Google search and Facebook news

2 Feb 2021

Q. The Australian government has proposed new rules that will mean companies like Google and Facebook have to pay news media companies for the use of their content.

In response, Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia and Facebook has threatened to remove news from its feed for all Australian users.

How concerned are you at the prospect of not being able to use these services if they are removed by Google and Facebook?

  Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
  Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
Very concerned 25% 25% 24% 28% 33% 15% 25% 23% 29% 27%
Quite concerned 32% 34% 31% 45% 30% 23% 36% 33% 34% 30%
Not that concerned 24% 20% 27% 17% 23% 31% 25% 23% 22% 24%
Not at all concerned 19% 21% 17% 10% 14% 31% 14% 22% 16% 19%
TOTAL: Concerned 57% 59% 56% 73% 63% 38% 61% 56% 62% 56%
TOTAL: Not concerned 43% 41% 44% 27% 37% 62% 39% 44% 38% 44%
Base (n) 1,092 532 560 318 391 383 361 400 97 126
  • Slightly more people are concerned about the prospect of not being able to use Google search and Facebook news if they are removed than those who aren’t concerned (57% vs 43%).
  • Those who are 18-34 are most concerned (73%), followed by those 35-54 (63%). Those over 55 are not as concerned compared to younger cohorts (38%).
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