Facebook ‘re-friends’ Australia, reversing news ban after government amends proposed media code
- The tech firm struck a last-minute deal with the Morrison administration that will allow it to show its support for journalism before being forced to pay for news content
- Analysts say both sides can claim a win, with Facebook avoiding enforced arbitration but Canberra emboldening other countries’ bids to regulate big tech
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and communications minister Paul Fletcher announced amendments to the country’s proposed media bargaining code in a face-saving deal that will see Facebook reverse a controversial ban on news content in Australia.
Under the changes, the government will consider whether a platform has made a “significant contribution to the sustainability of the Australian news media” through reaching commercial agreements with outlets before subjecting it to the code, which requires tech companies to negotiate compensation with media outlets whose content is shared on their platforms.
Final arbitration to resolve differences between the sides will also be “a last resort where commercial deals cannot be reached” after two months of mediation, while the government will also notify any digital platform of its intention to designate it under the code at least a month in advance.
The compromise comes after Facebook drew international attention last week when it barred Australian users from viewing and sharing news content and blocked Australian publishers’ pages from being viewed anywhere in the world.
That move also led to the blocking of non-news pages belonging to health departments, fire and rescue services, and charities, sparking widespread condemnation. The tech giant later said those restrictions were a mistake that resulted from its “broad definition” of the proposed legislation, which the government and Australian media companies have argued is necessary to fund journalism amid plummeting advertising revenues.
