Australia says Facebook is ‘back at table’ over content law for news payments
- PM Scott Morrison also welcomed an apology by a Facebook executive for the firm mistakenly closing pages that covered public-health and safety announcements
- Facebook has publicly indicated no change in its opposition to a proposed law requiring social media platforms to pay for links to news content
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday said Facebook Inc has re-engaged with the government after escalating tensions saw the social media company disable a raft of pages in the country, including some that offered public-health advice on the coronavirus.
The block on news sharing for Australian users came in response to a legal stand-off with the government, which is expected to pass laws next week aimed at compensating the local media industry for advertising revenue lost to digital platforms.
Morrison on Saturday said Facebook had “tentatively friended us again”.
“They’re back at the table,” told a news conference in Sydney. “That’s what we want to see. We want to work through this issue,” he said.
The prime minister also welcomed a report that a Facebook executive had apologised for the company mistakenly shutting down pages operated by charities and others that covered public-health and safety announcements. Morrison described the actions as “completely indefensible”.
Facebook has publicly indicated no change in its opposition to a proposed law requiring social media platforms to pay for links to news content. Morrison was not asked about that.
Australia’s Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Friday said he had spoken with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and further talks were expected over the weekend. It was not clear whether those talks have happened.