The social network blocks users from sharing information in response to the new law that would force them to pay the media
From now on, Australian Facebook users will not be able to share information from the media (Australian or the rest of the world) on the social network. It is the response of Mark Zuckerberg's company to the Australian bill that will force the technology companies that link news to pay for it to the publishers, legitimate owners of the rights. In practice, Facebook's move represents a pulse to the Australian government.
Facebook has announced that Australian news publishers will not be able to share or post content on their social network pages and posts by news publishers outside Australia will not be accessible to Australian users. From today, when one of them tries to share a link to a news item, a box appears that says that "in response to Australian government legislation, Facebook restricts the publication of new links and all news page posts". "Globally," the notice continues, "the posting and sharing of news links from Australian publications are restricted."
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| This is the notice that users who try to share information receive (Facebook) |
Australian law states that both Facebook and Google will be required to negotiate in good faith with Australian news pages in order to link their content, something they now do for free. In the event that the negotiations did not result in an agreement, the parties would submit to binding arbitration.
Google threatened to leave the country a month ago and has now begun to reach agreements with Australian publishers
Google threatened a month ago to completely abandon Australia if the government sticks with its plans. The Canberra executive did not give in to the pressures of the technology company, which in this time has already reached some agreements with publishers in the country, the most important of which is News Corp., which belongs to tycoon Rupert Murdoch, an American national but born in Australia.
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| When you access an international media page on Facebook from Australia, you cannot see the news either |
Facebook has published a statement stating that the bill "misinterprets" the relationship between the social network and publishers "who use it to share informational content. "It has left us - ruling - faced with a tough choice: try to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing informational content on our services in Australia. With great regret, we chose the latter option."
Facebook tries to distance itself from Google, which it says search "is inextricably intertwined with the news."
Facebook argues that its platform is not the same as Google. “Google search is inextricably intertwined with the news and publishers do not voluntarily provide their content. On the other hand, publishers voluntarily choose to post news on Facebook as it allows them to sell more subscriptions, grow their audiences and increase advertising revenue.
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| Facebook no longer allows links to Australian media |
According to Facebook, the social network "generated approximately 5.1 billion free referrals for Australian publishers for an estimated value of AU $ 407 million - € 262 million." The social network assures that "the commercial benefit of the news is minimal" and that these "represent less than 4% of the content that people see in their News Feed". But the reality is that Facebook was preparing to launch a news platform in Australia.
In a tone that sounds defiant, because Facebook “this legislation sets a precedent in which the government decides who enters into these news content deals and, ultimately, how much is paid to the party that already receives value from the free service ”. “We will now prioritize investments in other countries as part of our plans to invest in new licensed news programs and experiences,” he adds.
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