Facebook blocks Australian users from viewing or sharing contents

[sweep_shot]

Facebook has blocked Australian users from sharing or viewing news content on the platform, causing much alarm over public access to key information.

Australians woke up on Thursday to find the Facebook pages of all local and global news sites were unavailable.

Several government health, emergency and other pages were also blocked on Thursday - something the tech giant later asserted was a mistake.

Australia's government said the ban threatened Facebook's "credibility".

Those outside of Australia are also unable to read or access any Australian news publications on the platform.

Facebook's move is in response to a proposed law in Australia which would make tech giants pay for news content.

Companies like Google and Facebook have argued the law doesn't reflect how the internet works, and unfairly "penalises" their platforms.

The Australian government has said it is proceeding with the law, which passed parliament's lower house on Wednesday.

"Facebook needs to think very carefully about what this means for its reputation and standing," Communications Minister Paul Fletcher told the ABC.

Facebook's action came hours after Google agreed to pay Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for content from news sites across its media empire.

Why is Facebook doing this?
Australia's competition regulator said it had drawn up the laws to "level the playing field" between the tech giants and publishers over profits.

But Facebook said the law left it "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," it said in a blog post.

Australian publishers are also restricted from sharing or posting any links on their Facebook pages. The national broadcaster, the ABC, and newspapers like The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian have millions of followers.

Facebook said that it helped Australian publishers earn about A$407m (£228m;$316m) last year through referrals, but for itself "the platform gain from news is minimal".

The law sought "to penalise Facebook for content it didn't take or ask for", said the company's local managing director William Easton.

What happened with the government sites?

Facebook's change also denied Australians access to the pages of many key government agencies, including police and emergency services, health departments and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Other pages for charities, politicians, sports groups and other non-news organisations were also affected.

Facebook later released a statement which said these pages had been "inadvertently impacted" and would be reinstated, though it did not give a deadline.

A spokesperson said the company had "taken a broad definition" of the term "news content" in the law.

How have Australians responded?
The ban sparked an immediate backlash, with many Australians angry about their sudden loss of access to trusted and authoritative sources.

Several pointed out that Facebook was one crucial way that people received emergency news updates about the pandemic and national disaster situations.

"It feels obviously very restrictive in what Facebook is going to allow people to do in the future, not only in Australia but around the world," Sydney man Peter Firth told the BBC.

Another, Amelia Marshall, said she could not believe the firm's decision "in the middle of a pandemic", adding: "I've made the long-overdue decision to permanently delete my Facebook account."

Human Rights Watch' Australia director said Facebook was censoring the flow of information in the country - calling it a "dangerous turn of events".

"Cutting off access to vital information to an entire country in the dead of the night is unconscionable," said Elaine Pearson.

What is the government doing?

Australia's conservative government is standing by the law - which will be debated again in parliament today. It has broad cross-party support.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg tweeted that he had a "constructive" discussion with Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday.

"He [Mr Zuckerberg] raised a few remaining issues with the government's news media bargaining code and we agreed to continue our conversation to try to find a pathway forward," he said.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-56099523.

 

[JaDed]

This should be very interesting... for once i support FaceBook

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Australia wants Facebook to pay for people sharing news articles!!! These newspapers should make a Spotify type subscription based model. Its outrageous to expect Facebook to pay for that.

 

[JaDed]

I wish google had taken a stand too unfortunately they gave into News Corp.

 

[JaDed]

If Google is paying for news it need not be unbiased towards search results anymore, wonder if they would screw who they want then.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

I wish google had taken a stand too unfortunately they gave into News Corp.

And if they are paying Australia news orgs, they will now need to pay alot more people. Precedent has been set.

 

[JaDed]

And if they are paying Australia news orgs, they will now need to pay alot more people. Precedent has been set.

Yup.. they are screwed , it will probably be like one of those google things which they give up on.

Unless google controls which news they want to give preference too since they are paying for it now.

 

[JaDed]

I cannot understand why would google pay for news? Users are using google to actually go to these news sites redirecting the traffic , this is so weird and stupid by google, they gave into news corp !

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Yup.. they are screwed , it will probably be like one of those google things which they give up on.

Unless google controls which news they want to give preference too since they are paying for it now.

Yes thats the only benefit potentially that google gets from this.

If anything it should be the opposite. Those sites should pay google and facebook.

 

[JaDed]

Yes thats the only benefit potentially that google gets from this.

If anything it should be the opposite. Those sites should pay google and facebook.

Exactly so disappointing from one of my fav tech giant that has given so much to open source!

Good to see FB stand firm.. but they won’t really make a dent, Google is the one who could had.

 

[Giannis]

Not a fan of big tech but I hate the Australian media even more, Facebook did the right thing.

 

[Bigboii]

Not a fan of big tech but I hate the Australian media even more, Facebook did the right thing.

thier media is monopolized by Murdock family = fox news people

imagine a monopoly of fox news media that's what Australia has

 

[Giannis]

thier media is monopolized by Murdock family = fox news people

imagine a monopoly of fox news media that's what Australia has

Apparently the Murdoch's run Australia, imagine if Trump had that kind of domination he wouldn't have ever needed to run for President.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Australian media being pathetic as usual.

Google shouldn't have given in to their demands but it's likely they didn't want Microsoft's Bing to take over as the primary search engine in a big market like Australia. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft threw it's weight behind the legislation soon after Google said it'd pull out of the region. Facebook on the other hand is a totally different beast and has the power to take the Aussie media head on. For once, I'm with FB here.

 

[Giannis]

Australian media being pathetic as usual.

Google shouldn't have given in to their demands but it's likely they didn't want Microsoft's Bing to take over as the primary search engine in a big market like Australia. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft threw it's weight behind the legislation soon after Google said it'd pull out of the region. Facebook on the other hand is a totally different beast and has the power to take the Aussie media head on. For once, I'm with FB here.

Snake move by microsoft, they should've stood up to Australia. This has created a bad precedence.

 

[Gilly]

Apparently the Murdoch's run Australia, imagine if Trump had that kind of domination he wouldn't have ever needed to run for President.

Hahaha, things you see on the internet.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Hahaha, things you see on the internet.

I know right. I really wanted to respond but then ignorance is a bliss for some. Why ruin the fun .

 

[Firebat]

Facebook Australia: PM Scott Morrison 'will not be intimidated' by tech giant

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said his government will not be intimidated by Facebook blocking news feeds to users.

He described the move to "unfriend Australia" as arrogant and disappointing.

Facebook is responding to a proposed law which would make tech giants pay for news content on their platforms.

Australians on Thursday woke up to find that Facebook pages of all local and global news sites were unavailable.

People outside the country are also unable to read or access any Australian news publications on the platform.

Several government health and emergency pages were also blocked. Facebook later asserted this was a mistake and many of these pages are now back online.

Google and Facebook have fought the law because they say it doesn't reflect how the internet works, and unfairly "penalises" their platforms.

However, in contrast to Facebook, Google has in recent days signed payment deals with three major Australian media outlets.

Facebook's action came just hours after Google agreed to pay Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for content from news sites across its media empire.

Consumption of digital news through social media and search engines is growing in Australia, according to the Reuters Digital News Report for 2020.

Some 37% of consumers who took part said they had gained access to news via social media over the course of a week, compared with 31% who had directly accessed websites or apps, the report said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-56109036

 

[JaDed]

The approach of Aus leadership is “we will not be threatened “ ,are average Aussies so gullible to give into that?

 

[Bigboii]

I know right. I really wanted to respond but then ignorance is a bliss for some. Why ruin the fun .

[MENTION=732]Gilly[/MENTION]
Why educate me, I don't know about Australia domestic issues if I am wrong tell me!
Isn't australian media monipolised by murdoch family?
https://youtu.be/tZmdrDaH4eo

 

[Gilly]

[MENTION=732]Gilly[/MENTION]
Why educate me, I don't know about Australia domestic issues if I am wrong tell me!
Isn't australian media monipolised by murdoch family?
https://youtu.be/tZmdrDaH4eo

Me educate you, I'm learning from you.

 

[Bigboii]

Me educate you, I'm learning from you.

Oh c'mon quit trolling
Am I wrong? Genuinely curious...

 

[Gilly]

Oh c'mon quit trolling
Am I wrong? Genuinely curious...

Yeah the Murdoch's run Australia.

 

[Bigboii]

Yeah the Murdoch's run Australia.

"thier (Australian) media is monopolized by Murdock family"
Not one coherent response to a simple sentence...

 

[Giannis]

Yeah the Murdoch's run Australia.

"thier (Australian) media is monopolized by Murdock family"
Not one coherent response to a simple sentence...

I know right. I really wanted to respond but then ignorance is a bliss for some. Why ruin the fun .

It's not an ignorant statement, this law was proposed and lobbied by the Murdoch media monopoly and they get away with a lot of other things such as not paying taxes, of course other countries got oligarchs too but in a country as small as Australia ( ~ 25 million people), one powerful oligarch is enough to control the country.

 

[sweep_shot]

Facebook Australia: Tech giant faces growing criticism over news ban

Facebook is facing mounting criticism after it blocked news content in Australia amid a dispute with the government over a planned law.

The law will force tech giants to pay for news content on their platforms.

Facebook says the legislation "fundamentally misunderstands" its relationship with publishers.

But politicians, publishers and rights groups in several countries have accused it of bullying, and raised concerns over access to information.

Under Facebook's new rules, Australian users are blocked from viewing and sharing local and international news, while local publishers are restricted from sharing or posting any links on their pages.

Several government health and emergency pages were also blocked, but Facebook later said this was a mistake and many of these pages are now back online.

Who has criticised the move?
In a statement posted on Facebook, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the social media company's actions to "unfriend Australia" were "as arrogant as they were disappointing".

He added that he was in "regular contact with the leaders of other nations" over the issue and would not be "intimidated".

Mr Morrison later raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he sought to gain international support, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Other Australian officials have also criticised the move. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the ban on news information had a "huge community impact". About 17 million Australians visit the social media site every month. It is the most important social platform for news in the country.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan accused Facebook of "behaving like a North Korean dictator".

Others suggested that a news vacuum could be filled by misinformation and conspiracy theories.

Human Rights Watch's Australia director said Facebook was censoring the flow of information, calling it a "dangerous turn of events".

A local campaigner with rights group Amnesty International said it was "extremely concerning that a private company is willing to control access to information that people rely on".

The move also faced criticism outside Australia.

Julian Knight, the head of the British parliamentary committee overseeing the media industry, called Facebook's action "bullying".

"I think it's staggeringly irresponsible - at a time when we are facing a plethora of fake news and disinformation in relation to the Covid vaccine," he told the BBC.

"This is not just about Australia. This is Facebook putting a marker down, saying to the world that 'if you do wish to limit our powers… we can remove what is for many people a utility'."

Global publishers also reacted, with the company behind the Guardian newspaper saying it was "deeply concerned".

The head of Germany's BDZV news publishers' association said it was "high time that governments all over the world limit the market power of the gatekeeper platforms".

Many Australian users are also angry about their sudden loss of access to trusted and authoritative sources.

"It feels obviously very restrictive in what Facebook is going to allow people to do in the future, not only in Australia but around the world," Peter Firth, in Sydney, told the BBC.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-56116738.

 

[Firebat]

Undeterred by Facebook news blackout, Australia commits to content law

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed on Friday to press ahead with laws to force Facebook Inc to pay news outlets for content, saying he had received support from world leaders after the social media giant blacked out all media.

Facebook stripped the pages of domestic and foreign news outlets for Australians and blocked users of its platform from sharing any news content on Thursday, saying it had been left with no choice ahead of the new content laws.

The move, which also erased several state government and emergency department accounts, as well as nonprofit charity sites, caused widespread outrage.

Morrison, who blasted Facebook on its own platform for “unfriending” Australia, said on Friday the leaders of Britain, Canada, France and India had shown support.

“There is a lot of world interest in what Australia is doing,” Morrison told reporters in Sydney.

“That is why I invite ... Facebook to constructively engage because they know that what Australia will do here is likely to be followed by many other Western jurisdictions.”

Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault said late on Thursday his country would adopt the Australian approach as it crafts its own legislation in coming months.

The Australian law, which will force Facebook and Google to reach commercial deals with Australian publishers or face compulsory arbitration, has already been cleared by the federal lower house and is expected to be passed by the Senate within the next week.

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he had spoken to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for a second time following the news blackout.

“We talked through their remaining issues and agreed our respective teams would work through them immediately. We’ll talk again over the weekend,” Frydenberg said in a tweet.

In its statement announcing the move in Australia, Facebook said the Australian law “misunderstood” its value to publishers. Frydenberg earlier told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that “there is something much bigger here at stake than just one or two commercial deals. This is about Australia’s sovereignty”.

Facebook and Alphabet Inc owned Google had campaigned together against the laws with both threatening to withdraw key services from Australia if the laws took effect.

Google, however, announced a host of preemptive licencing deals over the past week, including a global agreement with News Corp.

Facebook restored some government pages later on Thursday, but several charity, nonprofit and even neighbourhood groups remained dark.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ustralia-commits-to-content-law-idUSKBN2AI2ZY

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Apparently the Murdoch's run Australia, imagine if Trump had that kind of domination he wouldn't have ever needed to run for President.

You do realise that Australia has been playing musical chairs with the PM seat for abt 13 years now.
6 PMs (3 Liberal, 3 Labor) in 13 years!

If we go by what you believe then either Mr. Murdoch is a bufoon who can't make up his mind or he doesn't run *****.

 

[Giannis]

You do realise that Australia has been playing musical chairs with the PM seat for abt 13 years now.
6 PMs (3 Liberal, 3 Labor) in 13 years!

If we go by what you believe then either Mr. Murdoch is a bufoon who can't make up his mind or he doesn't run *****.

You do realise that the executive office isn't the most powerful office in the land? Murdoch is either in control or is part of the Aussie deep state. PMs come and go.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

Whoever’s in control of Aussie PM’s office, they’re locking horns with the wrong people these days.

First Google threatened to pull out (with the govt. not realizing that half their public education online infrastructure is built on Google) and now this...

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

You do realise that the executive office isn't the most powerful office in the land? Murdoch is either in control or is part of the Aussie deep state. PMs come and go.

Yup.
And QAnon is the only truth. Dude...
Now I know why [MENTION=732]Gilly[/MENTION] was trolling

 

[Gilly]

Facebook is not going to allow links to the Australian media in posts.

Who really cares, the general consensus in Australia seems to be we dont really need facebook at all.

I think facebook have kicked an own goal here.

 

[JaDed]

Facebook is not going to allow links to the Australian media in posts.

Who really cares, the general consensus in Australia seems to be we dont really need facebook at all.

I think facebook have kicked an own goal here.

If only Google had not given in Aussies wouldn't be saying same thing, can’t believe the got scared of Bing!

 

[Gilly]

If only Google had not given in Aussies wouldn't be saying same thing, can’t believe the got scared of Bing!

What do you mean "Google give in", there was nothing google could do, Australia make their own laws and google can't decide what laws a country has. Google might control Indian laws but they sure don't control Australian laws.

 

[Bigboii]

Kevin Rudd(former PM) says Australian politicians ‘frightened’ of ‘Murdoch media beast’ in Senate inquiry
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...ened-of-murdoch-media-beast-in-senate-inquiry

Murdoch credited for Australia forcing payments to News publishers
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news...for-australia-forcing-payments-to--publishers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jR29iTWZJeQ&feature=youtu.be
Is Murdoch media facing a reckoning in Australia?

"In Australia, more than half a million people have signed a petition demanding their government investigate the Murdoch media empire and the influence it has on their lives."

My earlier claim murdoch family owns a large percentage of Australian news related service

And this came after a simple google search
https://www.theguardian.com/news/da...p-is-among-the-most-concentrated-in-the-world
Australia's newspaper ownership is among the most concentrated in the world

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pedestrian.tv/news/rupert-murdoch-news-corp-control/amp/
Here’s Exactly How Far Rupert Murdoch’s Media Empire Stretches In Australia And Beyond

" Television:
When it comes to TV, the Murdochs don’t own heaps in Australia. However, they *do* own Sky News (aka the Australian equivalent of Fox News) and they have a 65% stake in Foxtel and its subsidiaries.

Foxtel (65% ownership) – including Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and Binge.

Australian News Channel (100% ownership) – including Sky News (aka Alan Jones, Peta Credlin, etc)

Radio:
Rupert Murdoch is a shareholder in some radio stations, including KIIS 106.5 – as per the ACMA records. However, his son Lachlan Murdoch (aka not the one who denounced the family) owns Nova Entertainment.

Nova Entertainment (owned by Lachlan Murdoch): including Nova and Smooth FM radio stations."

"Print:
You might want to sit down for this, because if you’ve read a newspaper recently, there’s a pretty high chance that Murdoch owns it.

It’s hardly surprising that News Corp has been accused of having a big impact on our elections when you take a look at just how much of our national, state and regional newspapers they own. Truly, truly terrifying stuff.

All print media is owned by News Corp Australia, a subsidiary of News Corp.

National & State Newspapers:
The Australian

The Daily Telegraph

The Sunday Telegraph

Herald Sun

Herald Sun Sunday

The Courier Mail

The Sunday Mail

The Advertiser

Sunday Mail

The Mercury

Sunday Tasmanian

NT News

Sunday Territorian

Regional/Local Newspapers:"

Now frankly I don't know much about australian issues on a domestic level but to suggest I was totally ignorant to make an assurtion like that is totally ignorant on it's own...

 

[JaDed]

What do you mean "Google give in", there was nothing google could do, Australia make their own laws and google can't decide what laws a country has. Google might control Indian laws but they sure don't control Australian laws.

Are you in favor of the law?

 

[Gilly]

Are you in favor of the law?

It is consistant with other laws, like cricket you cant have other companies use footage of cricket to sell advertising, and its the same with music, you can't just record an artist and use it without thier permission.

 

[JaDed]

It is consistant with other laws, like cricket you cant have other companies use footage of cricket to sell advertising, and its the same with music, you can't just record an artist and use it without thier permission.

W.r.t Google its only a link.. the link being redirected to their website and the ad traffic would still make the website money..

If anything Google is the place where people go to search news and their website shows up..

Let me get this if tomorrow A News media is talking about any celeb without their permission, should they be paid because News Corp spoke about them?That would make a lot of celebs, Politicians a lot of money.

 

[Gilly]

W.r.t Google its only a link.. the link being redirected to their website and the ad traffic would still make the website money..

If anything Google is the place where people go to search news and their website shows up..

Let me get this if tomorrow A News media is talking about any celeb without their permission, should they be paid because News Corp spoke about them?That would make a lot of celebs, Politicians a lot of money.

Its not rocket science, its just business.

Google and Facebook dont have to do business in Australia. The law is or will be if you are going to use links or access to publications news stories then you have to pay a fee. Its very simple and if Google or facebook do not want to do business under those terms then they don't have to. They are not forced to do business in Australia but if they do then they have to abide by the conditions that Australia set out.

Google and Facebook can lobby for changes to the law just like anyone but if they start dishing out threats it won't make any difference.

Just like Google and facebook can talk about celebs so can news agents, but if news agents start showing movies or playing music without permission then everything changes.

 

[Bigboii]

Kevin Rudd(former PM) says Australian politicians ‘frightened’ of ‘Murdoch media beast’ in Senate inquiry
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...ened-of-murdoch-media-beast-in-senate-inquiry

Murdoch credited for Australia forcing payments to News publishers
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news...for-australia-forcing-payments-to--publishers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jR29iTWZJeQ&feature=youtu.be
Is Murdoch media facing a reckoning in Australia?

"In Australia, more than half a million people have signed a petition demanding their government investigate the Murdoch media empire and the influence it has on their lives."

My earlier claim murdoch family owns a large percentage of Australian news related service

And this came after a simple google search
https://www.theguardian.com/news/da...p-is-among-the-most-concentrated-in-the-world
Australia's newspaper ownership is among the most concentrated in the world

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pedestrian.tv/news/rupert-murdoch-news-corp-control/amp/
Here’s Exactly How Far Rupert Murdoch’s Media Empire Stretches In Australia And Beyond

" Television:
When it comes to TV, the Murdochs don’t own heaps in Australia. However, they *do* own Sky News (aka the Australian equivalent of Fox News) and they have a 65% stake in Foxtel and its subsidiaries.

Foxtel (65% ownership) – including Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and Binge.

Australian News Channel (100% ownership) – including Sky News (aka Alan Jones, Peta Credlin, etc)

Radio:
Rupert Murdoch is a shareholder in some radio stations, including KIIS 106.5 – as per the ACMA records. However, his son Lachlan Murdoch (aka not the one who denounced the family) owns Nova Entertainment.

Nova Entertainment (owned by Lachlan Murdoch): including Nova and Smooth FM radio stations."

"Print:
You might want to sit down for this, because if you’ve read a newspaper recently, there’s a pretty high chance that Murdoch owns it.

It’s hardly surprising that News Corp has been accused of having a big impact on our elections when you take a look at just how much of our national, state and regional newspapers they own. Truly, truly terrifying stuff.

All print media is owned by News Corp Australia, a subsidiary of News Corp.

National & State Newspapers:
The Australian

The Daily Telegraph

The Sunday Telegraph

Herald Sun

Herald Sun Sunday

The Courier Mail

The Sunday Mail

The Advertiser

Sunday Mail

The Mercury

Sunday Tasmanian

NT News

Sunday Territorian

Regional/Local Newspapers:"

Now frankly I don't know much about australian issues on a domestic level but to suggest I was totally ignorant to make an assurtion like that is totally ignorant on it's own...

"thier (Australian) media is monopolized by Murdock family"
Not one coherent response to a simple sentence...

[MENTION=732]Gilly[/MENTION] ? Troll away...

 

[Gilly]

[MENTION=732]Gilly[/MENTION] ? Troll away...

You seem to be caught up with Murdoch. If you think he runs the country or whatever then fine I dont really put that much time into it, its just not an issue here.

If you are upset that Australian laws are not to Facebook's liking then there's not much I or you can do about it, once again its not really an issue here.

I do think its funny that people like you are defending billionaires though, that is hilarious.

 

[Bigboii]

(You seem to be caught up with Murdoch. If you think he runs the country or whatever then fine I dont really put that much time into it, its just not an issue here.)

Nope, didn't say that
“ their (Australian) media is monopolized by Murdock family" - Which means it influential but not “controlling the government like a dictator you are envisioning”
And this is why I am caught up in Murdock family and GOA
“ Murdoch credited for Australia forcing payments to News publishers”
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news...for-australia-forcing-payments-to--publishers
It's relevant to this thread and how the monopoly is affecting GOA and its decision making
SO the question comes back to
“Do you believe that Murdock family has a monopoly on Australian media services?” - Yes or no question really
(If you are upset that Australian laws are not to Facebook's liking then there's not much I or you can do about it, once again it's not really an issue here.)

Well, they make threads to discuss and share opinions on the topics- I am sure you or I can't do much about most of the things discussed on TP - just like facebook and Australian laws but the point was are these laws good for Australia and its broader implication in the wider world
Is this the right thing to do?

(I do think it's funny that people like you are defending billionaires though, that is hilarious.)

WTH are you even talking about dude first of all explain “people like You”
second of all in this case both facebook and Murdock are billionaires so it doesn't even hold up properly… you defend your billionaire than

,,,

 

[Gilly]

“Do you believe that Murdock family has a monopoly on Australian media services?” - Yes or no question really

No, Australia's biggest news service is the ABC.

Murdoch owns newspapers, about 70% of them. About 25% of people get their news from newspapers.

ABC and Nine news dominate the media.

 

[Bigboii]

No, Australia's biggest news service is the ABC.

Murdoch owns newspapers, about 70% of them. About 25% of people get their news from newspapers.

ABC and Nine news dominate the media.

Then why are those former PM's banding together crying about Murdock and his tremendous influence on Aus politics?
Surely he must a powerful man if not why would a former PM say something as bombastic as this

Kevin Rudd(former PM) says Australian politicians ‘frightened’ of ‘Murdoch media beast’ in Senate inquiry
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.the...senate-inquiry

What's up with this?

 

[Gilly]

Well that turned out to be a storm in a teacup.

The war between Facebook and the Australian government is over.

Australian news will return to the social media giant's platform, and it will reach deals to pay news groups for their stories.

So, who won this titanic battle and how will that play out around the world?

The former boss of Facebook in Australia is pretty clear.

"I'd say Facebook may have blinked a bit here," Stephen Scheeler told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I think there's no question that global backlash against this was pretty stern.

"And I think Facebook probably observed that governments around the world were taking a harder line maybe than they had anticipated."
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56168843

 

[sweep_shot]

Australia passes law to make Google and Facebook pay for news

Australia has passed a world-first law aimed at making Google and Facebook pay for news content on their platforms.

The news code legislation had been fiercely opposed by the US tech giants.

Last week Facebook blocked all news content to Australians over the row, but reversed its decision this week after negotiations with the government.

Following those talks, the law passed with new amendments which make it possible for Facebook and Google not to be subject to the code.

However, both companies have now committed to paying lucrative sums to some big Australian publishers outside of the code. These deals have been widely viewed as a compromise by the tech giants.

Australia's law has been seen as a possible test case for similar regulation in other countries to get payment from digital platforms for news.

The amended legislation was passed in the House of Representatives on Thursday, after earlier going through the Senate.

Facebook and Google argued it "fundamentally" misunderstands how the internet works.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-56163550.