Australians Temporarily Barred from Posting News on Meta
In Australia, social media platforms have become a significant region news source for many, with over 40% of users highlighting their reliance on these platforms for their daily consumption of news.
News outlets came out Monday 12th of August, stated that Australian were no longer able to share links to their pages and region news source sites on the Meta’s social platforms, speculating that this might be the thin edge of the wedge in throttling news content on the platforms.
A Meta spokesperson clarified, “We’re aware of an error taking place and we’re working to resolve this.” By Monday afternoon, users reported that they were once again able to post news links, suggesting the problem had been fixed.
Meta’s History with News Content Restrictions
The incident brings back memories of a 2021 event when Meta briefly blocked to a being region news source on its platforms in Australia. In reaction to legislation that makes tech companies, including Meta, enter into commercial agreements with news providers to pay for content.
While yesterday’s incident was not an intentional news blackout, it certainly spurred reactions against the backdrop of global discussions about how tech giants handle news content globally.
In Canada, a parallel the region news source blackout continues, put in place as a response to legislation that would require payments for news content. Back in March, Meta announced it would not renew agreements with media companies for news payments once the contracts signed in 2021 expire.
Australia’s assistant treasurer is now considering whether to exercise powers under the news media bargaining code, which would force Meta into negotiations with news providers over payment arrangements and expose the company to fines worth 10% of their revenue in Australia.
The Australian government is now eyeing other options to avoid another standoff with Meta, including the introduction of a “must-carry” rule, which would require Meta to carry news content on its platforms. The Facebook parent claims that it is still too early to decide on the hypothetical scenario, since details on what would be required remain unclear.
The longer this plays out, the more attention and interest will focus on what now constitutes a front-and-center relationship between tech companies and news organizations that holds implications for the future of news distribution and consumption in Australia and globally.
Final Thoughts
Monday’s incident brought to light just how complex the relationship between technology companies and region news source organizations has become. More importantly, if social media is to remain one of the leading sources of information, it becomes clearer that the companies owning these platforms wield colossal power over how news is transmitted.
Such articulations, therefore, include the need for coherent policies that ensure fair payment to news providers while promoting the free flow of information. The outcomes of such discussions will be critical in framing the world’s current region news source consumption, both within Australia and globally, between governments and tech giants.
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