Facebook Blocks Australian Users From Sharing And Viewing News On The Platform
HIGHLIGHTS:
Facebook has blocked Australian users from sharing or viewing news content on the platform, causing much alarm over public access to key information.
International users outside Australia also cannot share Australian news.
On Thursday, 18 February 2021, Facebook announced it has blocked Australians from viewing and sharing news on its platform because of proposed laws in the country to make digital giants pay for journalism. The publishers can continue to publish news content on Facebook. However, the links and posts can’t be viewed or shared by Australian audiences, the U.S.-based company said in a statement.
Australian users won’t be allowed to share Australian or international news. While international users outside Australia cannot share any news related to Australia.
In a statement, Facebook regional managing director William Easton said, “The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content.”
The news has gained a lot of attention from several politicians and human rights activists who are criticizing it. The social media tech giant not only removed the news pages but several other official health pages, emergency safety warning pages, and welfare networks.
‘Facebook Didn’t Give Any Warning’
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg called this decision ‘unnecessary’ and said it will only damage the networking site’s reputation in the country. He alleged that there was no previous warning given to the Australian government about shutting down the news by Facebook and Google on its platform.
“Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg gave no warning of the news shutdown when we spoke over the weekend,” Josh said.
Why Is Facebook Doing This?
Australian authorities had drawn up the laws to "level the playing field" between the tech giants and struggling publishers over profits. Of every A$100 spent on digital advertising in Australian media, A$81 goes to Google and Facebook.
However, Facebook cleared that the law left it. “It has left us facing a stark choice: Attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia. With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter," William Easton said in his statement.
The law sought to penalize Facebook for the content it didn't take or ask for. Facebook has clearly mentioned in their blog post that it has helped Australian publishers earn about A$407m last year through referrals, but for itself, what platform gained from the news is minimal.
“We hope that in the future the Australian government will recognize the value we already provide and work with us to strengthen, rather than limit, our partnerships with publishers,” Easton said.
What Happened With The Websites?
The websites of several public agencies and emergency services were also blocked on Facebook, including pages that displayed up-to-date COVID-19 outbreaks information, brushfires, and other natural disasters.
As per the recent updates, several government-backed Facebook pages have been restored, however many international media sites remained scrubbed, including outlets like the New York Times, the BBC, and News Corp’s Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile, Google has made no comments on Facebook’s decision.
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