Google is prepared to ruthlessly shut down its news service if it is stung by sweeping new European internet laws
Google's top news executive Richard Gingras told The Guardian that Google won't rule out shutting down Google News in EU countries if the European Parliament enforces a so-called "link tax." The "link tax" refers to Article 11, a piece of legislation backed by the European Parliament in September, which would require companies like Google to hold licenses for linking to publishers. Gingras said that while it is "not desirable" to shut down services, Google is concerned by the legislation in its current form. Google's top news executive has hinted that the company is prepared to shut down Google News in Europe if it is stung by new EU legislation. Richard Gingras, Google's vice president of news, told The Guardian that he won't rule out switching off the news service in response to the EU's proposed crackdown on online copyright infringement, referred to as the "link tax." The "link tax" refers to Ar