Facebook bans all news on feeds in Australia

Facebook has chosen to block all Australian and international news from all feeds in Australia. The company opposes proposed new laws that would force tech companies to pay for the journalism they run.

“The bill does not at all understand the relationship between our platform and the publishers who use it to share topical content,” said William Easton, managing director of Facebook Australia and New Zealand, in a released statement. this morning.

“Google search is inseparable from news and publishers do not voluntarily provide their content. On the other hand, publishers like to post news on Facebook because it allows them to sell more subscriptions, increase their audience and increase their reach. ‘increase their advertising revenue. Can grow. “

Unfortunately, Facebook’s summary of the news from Australian feeds resulted in the removal of many non-news organizations including emergency services, government health services, various charities, satirical comedy websites, editors of video games and even a host of international sports teams.

Some blocked feeds have since been restored by Facebook (including Fire & Rescue NSW and Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services), but many remain inaccessible, from the non-profit Bowel Cancer Australia to EA and at the Denver Broncos …

The Australian government is reportedly pushing forward the legislation, which is expected to be passed by the Senate next week.

“Facebook needs to think very carefully about what this means for its reputation and status,” Communications Secretary Paul Fletcher told the newspaper. ABC.

“We will stress that the position taken by Facebook means that the information people see on Facebook does not come from organizations that can check the news with paid journalists and editorial policies.”

Facebook claims to have referred to Australian publishers about 5.1 billion times last year, an estimated A $ 407 million. Latest Corporate Tax Transparency Annual Report Says Facebook Made Over A $ 582 Million In Revenue In 2018-19, But Reported Only A $ 51.4 Million In Revenue taxable and only A $ 15.4 million in taxes paid. The Australian branch of Facebook has therefore already been scrutinized to lower taxable income by sending hundreds of millions of dollars to anonymous foreign affiliates.