Google slams Microsoft over stance in media payments

Microsoft Brad Smith's blamed Google's business model for "devouring" ad revenue on which news groups rely. — AFP

Google on Friday took aim at Microsoft, accusing its technology rival of "distraction" for siding with governments seeking to force tech platforms to pay media organisations for news content.

In a blog post, Google argued that Microsoft was trying to divert attention from a potentially devastating attack on Exchange emails servers by hackers taking advantage of software vulnerabilities.