Facebook threatens to remove news from platforms in Australia
Social media behemoth Facebook is threatening to remove all news from its platforms in Australia in a major attack on a new regulatory code that would force it and Google to pay publishers for content.
In a post on its website, Facebook Australia managing director Will Easton said the proposed legislation, which was announced in July, misunderstands "the dynamic of the internet" and will damage news organisations.
Facebook has threatened to remove the ability to distribute news on the platform and Instagram.Credit:AP
"Assuming this draft code becomes law, we will reluctantly stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram," Mr Easton said.
"We already invest millions of dollars in Australian news businesses and, during discussions over this legislation, we offered to invest millions more. We had also hoped to bring Facebook News to Australia, a feature on our platform exclusively for news, where we pay publishers for their content.
"But these proposals were overlooked. Instead, we are left with a choice of either removing news entirely or accepting a system that lets publishers charge us for as much content as they want at a price with no clear limits. Unfortunately, no business can operate that way."
Facebook has been relatively silent since the ACCC released the first version of a news media bargaining code in July. Meanwhile search engine Google, which will also be subject to the legislation, went public with its concerns and tried to rally users to lobby government.
The proposed code will give Google and Facebook three months to negotiate revenue-sharing deals with media companies before an independent arbitrator is called in to impose a compulsory arrangement. The code also includes a requirement to provide advance notice of algorithm changes and information on how and when Google and Facebook make data available for publishers.
More to come