Will Google Leave Australia and What That Implies?

With the changes introduced to the Australian legislature which forces the platform to pay publishers for clicks, there is a significant chance that the tech giant will leave the country completely. But, what happens if Google is to leave Australia?

As this is not just a single website, but a range of services, Australian citizens and residents are at risk of losing a set of services:

1. Search Engine
2. Maps and Location services
3. Cloud storage
4. Documents and office tools
5. Payment services

But, while these are services that most Aussies use daily, they are not impossible to exchange for similar ones. Additionally, there is the question of China as a country that is already for a decade without the giant.

It is certain that losing Google will put a strain on many companies and small businesses in the country. But, either Australians can switch to existing Western Alt Tech, make something on their own, or see an increase of products from China that compete in the same sector.

Will It or Won't It?

When it comes to the exit, the ball is in Google's court. They can either pay for the required services that are used in the country or even ban Australian publishers from the platform to accommodate the law.

Regardless, it seems that Google's poker face is slipping on the subject as the Company has not yet reacted with certainty about leaving the large island nation.

The issue is that the laws introduced in Australia are not unique. The Republic of France has made similar changes to their laws and Google was more than accommodating to pay what was required in Europe.

Now, the question is if the same math will work down under?

Impact on Global Businesses

Google leaving the country doesn't only influence the local terrestrial businesses, but may also impact those that are focused on Australia and work globally. Entertainment and art are probably the first to experience problems, as they do most of their business over the search engine.

Companies like auscasinos.com have taken the advantage of the rising gambling market and have been making good progress in attracting both local and foreign players. That would be impacted if no one can find them online.

The additional downside to this effect is the lower probability for investments of global companies into the local market and economy. While Australian companies will be visible on Google worldwide, there will be a diminished local demand for services that can't be easily found.

Introducing Issues for Local Small Businesses

Aussies are special. The local culture may seem quite English on the facade, but someone visiting the country will quickly notice the rugged individualism of the settling Westerners mixing with the Aborigine ways, such as the Bun and the Woi in Melbourne.

On top of that add the plethora of influences from those who came in later, including people from all over the Planet. This gave rise to fascinating small businesses that are the reflection of these influences.

For instance, there is the remarkable Duke's Coffee that sources exquisite organic and free trade coffee from all over the globe to roast it into midnight fuel for the IT industry in Melbourne and Perth.

Although they will probably be found by using any search engine, such businesses would be impacted if it becomes impossible to search their location while on a bumble back from work.

Problems for Individuals and Creators

Finally, the biggest issue when it comes to Google leaving Australia is the fact that local creators and individual businesses that don't have the infrastructure to market elsewhere will hurt. This is especially the case for those who work exclusively online.

One such example is souvlakiforthesoul.com, the best Greek food cooking blog outside of Greece itself. If the tech giant leaves the country, it is possible that those googling the recipe for the best milk pie ever (galatopita) won't be able to find his source.

Similar creators will have similar problems. And, unlike larger companies that will have enough funds and know-how to switch to other platforms and continue business as usual, small creators won't have all of these resources.

There are Other Options

While Google and its services are very good, they are not unique. The same services may be provided by others, and for some, you don't even need to dip your toes into Alt Tech.

For instance, online maps can be provided by Apple to a similar degree that they are used in Google Maps. And with more than 37% of Aussies already using the system, it won't be a hard switch.

As for the search engine, there are large options like Microsoft's Bing or better options like DuckDuckGo that can be used instantly.

Finally, cloud computing might be an issue for many individuals and companies, but there are many companies out there who are more than willing to step in if the service is needed.