News

Restriction of All Posts And Links By Australian News Pages Lead To Australians Boycotting Facebook

On the 18th of February 2021, Facebook bans Australian news outlets on its platform, restricts people in Australia from accessing news. Because of that, every people and also publishers in Australia can no longer share and view news in the country either.

The ban by the social media giant came shortly after the Australian House of Representatives passed proposed media bargaining laws that will require social media companies to pay their media outlets for using their content. The bill is expected to pass the Senate and become law as early as later this month.

Picture: Google

While Facebook went through with its ban, Google has agreed to pay Australian news outlet that is the ‘Nine Entertainment Co’ more than A$30 million annually for the use of its news content. ‘Nine Entertainment Co’ is actually Australia’s largest domestic media company that owns ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ and also ‘The Age’. Other than that, Google has also agreed to pay two other Australian media outlets for the use of their news content.

The managing director of Facebook in Australia and New Zealand wrote in an open letter that the proposed law by the government ‘fundamentally misunderstands’ the relationship of Facebook’s platform and also publishers using it to share news content. It also stated “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”.

Australians using Facebook to connect with friends and family, grow their businesses, and join communities will not be affected by the change. Easton also added that he hoped for the Australian government to recognize the value that the platform already provides, and to work with them rather than limit our partnerships with publishers.

On Twitter, hashtag #DeleteFacebook has also been trending in the country:

Sources: Financial Times, The Hindu Business Line, CNN News, Tanya Selak, Lisa Davies, Dawnofthedinos.

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

From Cookies to Classrooms: Starbucks Raises Over RM100K to Revive Centre for the Deaf

What if your sweet tooth could change lives? Since 2018, Starbucks Malaysia has raised over… Read More

7 hours ago

Tous les Jours Expands in Malaysia with New Outlets at Sunway Pyramid and Sunway Velocity

Malaysian fans of delectable K-inspired baked goods will be delighted to hear that Tous Les… Read More

13 hours ago

Stitch Lands in KL, Disney’s Blue Menace Takes Over Pavilion This School Holiday

Get ready for a school holiday filled with tropical vibes as Pavilion Kuala Lumpur transforms… Read More

13 hours ago

Malaysia Gears Up for Southeast Asia’s First Smart City Expo, Here’s Why You Should Care

Kuala Lumpur just flipped the switch on something big. The 100-day countdown to Smart City… Read More

13 hours ago

Ejen Ali: The Movie Review, A Next-Level Win for Malaysian Animation

Ejen Ali: The Movie 2 isn’t just a sequel, it’s a bold upgrade that proves… Read More

14 hours ago

When Creativity Meets Comfort: LEGO® and IKEA Malaysia Reimagine Home Decor

When Creativity Meets Comfort: LEGO® and IKEA Malaysia Reimagine Home Decor With its latest collection… Read More

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.