SYDNEY, Feb 18, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Australia’s government said Thursday that
Facebook was “heavy-handed” and “wrong” for introducing an unprecedented
local ban on sharing news in response to pending legislation that would force
the social media giant to pay for content.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the US firm gave no notice it would revoke
users’ ability to post links to news articles or view the Facebook pages of
news outlets from anywhere in the world.
“Facebook was wrong. Facebook’s actions were unnecessary, they were heavy-
handed, and they will damage its reputation here in Australia,” he said.
The surprise move early Thursday came as retaliation for laws proposed in
Canberra that would force social media giants to pay for Australian news
content shared on their sites.
Frydenberg said the government remained “absolutely committed” to
implementing its plan, which passed the House of Representatives late
Wednesday and is now before the Senate.
“What today’s events do confirm for all Australians is the immense market
power of these media digital giants,” he said.
“These digital giants loom very, very large in our economy and on the
digital landscape.”
Facebook has been engaged a lengthy war of words with Canberra over its
regulatory push, which tech firms fear could create a global precedent that
could require dramatic changes and hit their business model.
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher had also raised concerns that
blocking news media on the popular platform in Australia could boost the
spread of misinformation.
“What they’re effectively saying to Australians is, ‘You will not find
content on our platform which comes from an organisation which employs
professional journalists, which has editorial policies, which has fact-
checking processes’,” he said.
“They’re effectively saying, ‘You will not find information that meets
those standards of accuracy on our site’.
“That seems a very surprising position and one that is unlikely to be in
the long-term interest of their brand.”
Several non-news sites were also caught up in the blackout Thursday —
including government health departments, emergency services, charities,
Indigenous groups and even Facebook’s own page.
A Facebook spokesperson said it would reverse those inadvertent measures,
with some accounts restored within hours.
The company said Australian media outlets were also blocked for users
outside the country.