Australia regulator chief Sims says Google and Facebook draft laws fair, critical for media future

FILE PHOTO: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman Rod Sims, pictured in Sydney, Australia, October 31, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Reed/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman (ACCC) Rod Sims said proposed laws that will make Australia the first country in the world to force Google and Facebook to pay for news were fair and critical for the survival of the media industry.

Sims said he was surprised to hear criticisms from Google about the draft legislation unveiled by the Australian government earlier this month.