Canberra: Facebook on Thursday prohibited the sharing of news in Australia, showing a strong attitude. This move by the social media company has led to a lot of controversy among the government, media, and powerful tech (technology) companies. The Australian government has condemned Facebook’s move. The move by the social media company has been described by an Australian minister as “an attack on a sovereign country” and misuse of powers.
Facebook has also ‘blocked’ some government communications and some commercial pages, including messages about emergency services. Finance Minister Josh Friedenberg said that the House of Representatives, the lower house of Australia’s parliament, has passed a bill that provides for payment for Australian journalism by Facebook and Google.
He said that Facebook did not give any warning before taking this step. However, before this bill becomes a law it will need to be passed by the Senate, the upper house of parliament. Actually, Facebook is afraid that what is happening in Australia, other countries will follow it. “This Facebook move was unnecessary, they are taking a tough stance and this will tarnish their image in Australia,” Friedenberg said.
Facebook has said that the proposed law “has not understood the relationship between our platform and the publishers who use it.” Health Minister Greg Hunt said in Parliament, “This is an attack on a sovereign nation. It is an attack on people’s freedom, especially as it is a complete misuse of the market power of large technologies and control over technology. “
The government has alleged on Facebook that it is temporarily endangering public safety by temporarily ‘blocking’ the message of emergency services, on a day when floods have been warned of in various parts of the country. Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said he had told Facebook that the government should restore access to its page. He said, “Facebook pages of the state health department, fire brigade and emergency services… have been blocked, this is an issue of public safety.”
Both Google and Facebook have threatened to retaliate if Australia enacts this law. At the same time, the government wants to ensure that the media business of the country gets a fair amount for their journalism (news) on these online forums. If this new law comes into force in Australia, the digital giant paid for the news. You will not be in a position to dominate the bargaining over the amount going out. They will not be able to offer that just take this amount, or will not get it.
Facebook had threatened to prevent people in Australia from sharing news on its platform, instead of paying under the provisions of the proposed ‘News Media Bargaining Code’ (News Media Bargaining Code). At the same time, Google had threatened that it would remove its search engine in Australia.
However, Google’s threat is no longer meaningful as it has entered into a deal with Australian media companies. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp announced a deal with Google on Wednesday. At the same time, Seven West Media signed a deal earlier this week.
In the meantime, Friedenberg said that he talked to his chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg after Facebook had taken steps to block the page. The minister said, “He (Zuckerberg) told me that he had some concerns about the provisions of the proposed law….” He said that his government is committed to this law.
He said, “Other countries are also closely monitoring, but Google and Facebook and other digital companies are also thinking about its consequences….”
