Google to ditch controversial 'first click free' policy

US company to replace policy forcing news outlets to offer three free articles a day in exchange for visibility on its search engine

Google is to abandon its controversial policy of forcing news providers to offer free articles in order to appear on its search engine as part of a collection of measures designed to support the growth of digital subscriptions.

The US company will replace its so-called "first click free" policy, which requires publishers to offer three free articles a day before readers come across a pay wall.