The Australian government has announced a new tax initiative targeting major technology companies, including Meta, Google, and TikTok. This move mandates a 2.25% levy on these firms unless they reach agreements to pay local news outlets. The proposal has been met with criticism from the Trump administration, which has labeled the legislation as ‘foreign extortion.’ In response, some tech giants have rejected the tax, with Meta calling the position ‘simply wrong.’ Meanwhile, the Computer & Communications Industry Association has urged U.S. officials to act against what they perceive as a discriminatory tax proposal. Australia aims to support struggling newsrooms through this revenue scheme, asserting it is necessary to protect democracy.