Google’s new blog post is digging its heels in about a specific part of the news bargaining code: 52N algorithmic ranking.

This part of the legislation was designed so Google can’t get around the legislation by booting off, down ranking, or just showing snippets instead.

This is how they responded to similar legislation in Spain & France.

Google claims in their blog that they have to give “special notice and explanations to news businesses” as though they must inform them of their every move.

But the legislation doesn’t say that.

It says they must be given notice if the “changes are likely to have a significant effect on the ranking of the news business”, eg if they’re about to be kicked off or turned into snippets like French outlets.

See for yourself. Left, the actual legislation. Right, Google’s post.

I understand why Google hates it.

But it’s not because it’ll break Search: it’s because they won’t be able to retaliate like they have before.