The company has had a history of conflicts with federal governments of different countries. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is going on the offensive, last Thursday calling his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to shore up support from a country that's home to more Facebook users than any other. The answer to this was that Facebook banned Australian news. And they have good reason to be concerned. Facebook’s actions were unnecessary. Not right now, but news will be restored to the platform in the coming days. Facebook said on Thursday it was no longer going to allow publishers and Australian users to share and view news content on its site. Yet this doesn't mean the saga is over. This is why it’s happened and how it affects you. More calls with world leaders are likely to follow. Read the news.". The deals involve Google News Showcase, which highlights news articles curated by publishers, a service through which Google has pledged $1 billion to outlets around the world. Facebook estimated those referrals to be worth AU$407 million ($315 million). We’ll talk again over the weekend. Google launched News Showcase in Australia in early February, as a senate committee was deliberating turning the News Media Bargaining Code into law. The law also requires that Facebook and Google give news outlets "clear information about the data they collect through users' interactions with news on digital platforms.". Also read: Facebook Makes A Power Move In Australia - And May Regret It, Also read: Facebook To Provide 'Science-based News' To Tackle Myths, Misinformation On Climate Change, Facebook to launch news service in UK 'to deliver informative, reliable, relevant' content, Facebook to roll out new update, will let users merge Messenger chats with Instagram, How to share avatar on Facebook in comments, messenger, as stickers; details inside, Facebook shuts out Australian news publishers; in standoff over paying them for posting, Facebook makes a power move in Australia - and may regret it, Sachin Vaze sent to Taloja jail till Apr 23; CBI allowed to access 'extortion diary', Kate Middleton, Prince William change profile pictures in honour of Prince Philip, Mumbai's 'dabbawalas' saddened by death of Prince Philip; share heartwarming anecdote, Why did Facebook Ban Australian News? Australia says traditional news outlets are struggling to compete with Google, Facebook and other tech companies for advertising dollars, a widely though not universally held belief. This has resulted in the ban of some non-news pages to such as some state health departments, the West Australian fire and emergency services page, the WA opposition leader’s page, and more. Facebook says it will stop people viewing or sharing news in Australia But technology companies argue that the payments are unfair, and threaten some of the technologies that underpin the internet. Users who've tried get a notice saying the company has restricted sharing in response to the proposed law. If you're in Australia, you can't view or share news on the platform. Facebook has banned all news sites and posting of news in Australia as it believes that the news companies have more to gain than Facebook in this sort of arrangement. technology; What Facebook’s Australian news ban means for you and for conspiracy theories on its platform. This ultimately led to Monday's announcement of Facebook's U-Turn, and of the government's concessions. Under the proposal, which was introduced in the Australian Parliament in December, news businesses would bargain individually or collectively with Facebook and Google so they get paid for their content. Critics of Facebook say the company's ban on news appearing on its platform in Australia has made it more difficult for people to access reliable sources - … That threatens the news industry, which is seen as an important part of democratic societies, keeping citizens informed and holding the powerful in check. In the early hours of Thursday morning for most Australians, Facebook pressed the big red button. Some of these accounts have been restored though. Facebook’s news ban in Australia is draconian. (Pocket-lint) - Last week Facebook announced it would restrict Australian users from viewing or sharing news. In a surprise retaliatory move Thursday, Facebook blocked Australians from sharing news stories, escalating a fight with the government over whether powerful tech companies should have to pay news organizations for content. Facebook has mentioned that the law doesn’t provide clear guidance as to what is news content, so they have taken a broader definition in order to respect the law as it was drafted. Facebook on Tuesday agreed to lift its controversial news ban in Australia after the government said it would make a change to a law that would force … A minister in Canada cited Australia's example as he called for Google and Facebook to pay publishers in his country, and a member of the European Parliament previously told CNET he wants to integrate similar measures into upcoming EU legislation. Users will no be able to view any posts or links from Australian news publishers and international news sites. Though Google initially threatened to pull its search product out of Australia, the company eventually struck agreements with major publishers, including a three-year deal with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Officials in other countries also watched the battle play out. When Facebook applied the block last Wednesday, it did so chaotically. SAN FRANCISCO — For months, Facebook and Google have been locked in a stare-down with news publishers and lawmakers in Australia. "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," Will Easton, who manages Facebook's Australia and New Zealand operations, said in an August blog post. Facebook has not only blocked news sites in Australia but weather and retailers. Front pages of Australian newspapers are displayed featuring stories about Facebook in Sydney, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. "This is not our first choice -- it is our last.". Facebook news ban explained: What this means for users. Despite Facebook's decision to bar news looking final, the country's treasurer tweeted on Wednesday that he was in talks with Mark Zuckerberg and that the two were working through Facebook's issues with the bill. The decision was big and controversial given the increasing number of people who rely on the social network for information on topics ranging from the coronavirus to politics. In response to Australia’s proposed new Media Bargaining law, Facebook will restrict publishers and people in Australia from sharing or viewing Australian and international news content. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. "Is Facebook going to cut ties with Germany, with France?". No user will be able to post Facebook news going forward in Australia. Facebook announced that it will no longer allow publishers and users in Australia to share or view news content. Nine Entertainment and Seven West, two of the country's biggest media companies, accepted deals reportedly worth over AU$30 million ($23 million) a year. Thinking of friends, just trying to make a living, report some news and make some content. France has already pushed Google into paying publishers. He said Oliver Dowden, Britain's digital, media and culture secretary, is looking "very closely" at how the UK could make Facebook pay its publishers, according to The Times. Today we made an incredibly difficult decision to restrict the availability of news on Facebook in Australia. All sorts of Facebook news have been banned. The move was aimed at taking a stance on a new piece of proposed legislation that would force social media companies like Facebook to pay publishers when people post their content to social media. But many non-news pages got caught in the crossfire, like Australia's Bureau of Meteorology, which people turn to for weather updates. Pages for two of Australia's official state health pages also went blank, a cause of criticism during a pandemic. This is scheduled to be reversed later in the week, following Facebook's Monday announcement that the ban would cease. Publishers benefit from the social network because it "allows them to sell more subscriptions, grow their audiences and increase advertising revenue," the tech giant says. This in turn allows them to sell more subscriptions and advertising. Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech explains the sudden move by Facebook to bans Australian news sites from its platform. Now the social media giant had decided to reverse its decision. News Corp. followed with a global agreement that'll see newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Times and The Australian come to News Showcase for a "significant" fee. But it might not be wrong. The move was a direct response to Australia… Alex Saliba, a Maltese politician and member of the European Parliament, told CNET he hopes to integrate measures like Australia's into upcoming legislation. The deals follow a pattern similar to that of an agreement struck in France, where, after a protracted battle with the government, Google agreed to shell out millions of euros to some publishers. Facebook has threatened to ban all news content in Australia … Users won't be able to post links to any news sites either. Politicians in the EU, UK and Canada have said they're following the developments carefully. Facebook has banned all Australian and international news – and pages that appear to be news – from appearing on the timelines of Australian users. News organisations in Australia and elsewhere choose to post news on Facebook for this precise reason, and they encourage readers to share news across social platforms to increase readership of their stories. At the heart of … If media outlets and digital platforms can't reach an agreement, an independent arbitrator would make a decision. Initially, seven small publishers participated with News Corp. and Nine Entertainment, the two biggest companies lobbying for the media code, in rejecting Google's invitation to join. Facebook said the proposed Australian law fundamentally misunderstood the relationship between their platform and publishers who use it to share news content. News content is less than 4 percent of what people see in their News Feeds, Facebook says, but generated about 5.1 billion in free referrals to Australian publishers. The government could extend the scope of the law to include other platforms in the future if it has enough evidence of a "bargaining power imbalance." For the last three years, Facebook has worked closely with the Australian government on regulation that would help better define the relationships between technology companies and news organizations. A blurb on Google's search homepage last year warned Australians that the draft media code could make search worse. Frydenberg, who has hailed the media bargaining code as a historic step to keep Australia’s media ecosystem sustainable, slammed the Facebook news ban on Thursday: “Facebook was wrong. News has been banned from Facebookin Australia as the social media giant steps up its fight against the federal government’s proposed news media code. Facebook also stated that the news content accounts for less than 4% of the content that people observe in their feeds. Users also reported that they couldn't view or share content from charities and other government services. So the Facebook Pages for Australian news outlets don't display news. In practicality, no news content will be published in Australia and none of the users will be able to link news content to their posts from Australian publishers or any other international news sites. Facebook says the proposed law "misunderstands" its relationship with news outlets, failing to take into account its role in driving readers to publishers. Last Wednesday, Facebook pulled the trigger, even before the News Media Bargaining Code, which also affects Google, has become law. As the bill came closer to becoming law, Google made more-generous offers. Calling it their “last choice”, Facebook said it will “stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram”. What does it … This Facebook Australian media ban business is going to hit some outlets really hard. Now playing: Watch this: Facebook's news blackout explained 4:14 Australia wants to level the playing field. The site blacks out news outlets in Australia over proposed legislation that would require Facebook to pay news publishers for content. Do you agree with Facebook's decision to block Australians from accessing news? Many people are still confused as to why did Facebook ban Australian news. Here's what you need to know about Facebook, Google and the proposed law. Go direct to the source Download the ABC News app for all the latest. The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content. Many Australians are wondering why is there no news on Facebook and want the Facebook Ban explained. The deal gives more time for … Facebook also stated that the news content accounts for less than 4% of the content that people observe in their feeds. The key amendment listed was that Australian officials must consider the contributions a company makes to the Australian news industry via compensation agreements with outlets before it designates that company as a "digital platform" under the code. Also read: After Australia, Canada Vows To Go After Facebook To Pay For News, Also read: Facebook Starts Negotiation With Australian Govt After Banning News Over New Bill. The social media giant cut millions of Australians off from the news … Branded news pages, like CNET's, went completely blank. After a five-day standoff with the Australian government, Facebook on Monday announced it would lift its news blockade on Australian users. And this is why is there no news on Facebook in Australia. Just because Facebook has done a 180 on news in Australia doesn't mean it can't do so again. In simpler terms, it means Facebook is hoping that if it enters enough licensing agreements with local publishers, it won't be forced to comply with the law's terms. Australians woke up last Thursday to find news had vanished from their Facebook feed. "Going forward, the government has clarified we will retain the ability to decide if news appears on Facebook so that we won't automatically be subject to a forced negotiation," said Campbell Brown, Facebook's head of Global News Partnerships, in a statement on Monday. Australia's treasurer and communications minister, Josh Frydenberg and Paul Fletcher, simultaneously released a joint press release, announcing the government would make changes to the contentious bill. Facebook has been waging a war with the country of Australia for a while now. The latest conflict is with the Australian government and stems from the fact that Australia has asked Facebook to pay a specific amount for publishing any new content on their social media platform. Other countries are thinking about similar laws and regulations too. Even if you aren't in Australia, Facebook's decision could affect you because news from Australian publishers can't be viewed or shared. Frydenberg tweeted shortly after that Facebook has reached an agreement with Seven West Media, a major Australian news business. The companies are worried that Australia will set a precedent. Saliba is acting rapporteur for the proposed Digital Services Act, EU legislation that would hold major tech companies responsible for illegal content that circulates on their platforms. Facebook briefly banned its users from sharing news content on its platform in Australia. Last year, Facebook issued a stark warning to the Australian government over a proposed law that would require the social-media giant to pay publishers: Pass it and we'll restrict news Down Under. If you go to a publisher's Facebook page, such as 9News Australia, it will display a message saying "no posts yet". Picture: JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images, Facebook Facebook's news ban in Australia comes after the Australian government had proposed new laws which would force Google and Facebook to pay news outlets for their content on the platform in the same way that they pay for advertising. William Easton, the managing director of Facebook in Australia and New Zealand, noted that Facebook was forced to choose between complying with Australia's laws or cutting off news services completely. Facebook hasn’t just banned Australian news publishers, but all types of news publishers’ posts have been banned in Australia. Social media giant Facebook will prohibit publishers and people in Australia from sharing or viewing Australian and international news content in response to Australia's proposed media bargaining laws — a move Nine says will inhibit news creators from sharing quality news and information. Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, who oversees the country's media, pledged on Thursday to make Facebook and Google pay publishers in his country. Get the latest tech stories with CNET Daily News every weekday. They were heavy-handed and they will damage its reputation here in Australia,” he said. "These actions will only confirm the concerns that an increasing number of countries are expressing about the behavior of Big Tech companies who think they are bigger than governments and that the rules should not apply to them," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a Facebook post. The UK's health secretary, Matt Hancock, intimated the government was interested in following Australia's lead too. Facebook on Monday announced it would lift its news blockade on Australian users, last Thursday calling his Indian counterpart, Monday announcement that the ban would cease. Facebook Ban Explained, After Australia, Canada Vows To Go After Facebook To Pay For News, Facebook Starts Negotiation With Australian Govt After Banning News Over New Bill, Facebook Makes A Power Move In Australia - And May Regret It, Facebook To Provide 'Science-based News' To Tackle Myths, Misinformation On Climate Change. Today I had a further conversation with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.We talked through their remaining issues & agreed our respective teams would work through them immediately. Whereas Facebook itself has provided up to 5.1 Billion clicks to Australian news accounts. "The only question is if the DSA and the DMA ... are the appropriate legislation to introduce such a system.". In a strong pushback to Australia’s new media bargaining laws, Facebook has decided to black out news content from its social networking platform Down Under. The controversial Australia news ban explained. Under the new proposed Code, Facebook is expected to pay a specific amount when it posts any news content in Australia. Facebook's decision to ban Australian news stories from its service comes in … Facebook has allowed content from some users but blocked most of the news pages. The social network came to this … It now reads: "News Showcase now has more than 73 partner publications in Australia. Facebook and Google don't like the proposed law but have responded differently. Canada may adopt Australia's model, Guilbeault said, adding that he'd been in contact with officials in France, Germany and Finland about the issue. What's happening in Australia is likely a taste of what'll happen in other parts of the world. Facebook has restricted access to news in Australia, and so far the tech giant has taken a pretty broad definition of news. After a weekend of negotiations with Australia's government, Facebook on Monday reversed the news ban. Facebook has threatened to stop users from sharing news content in Australia as it prepares for a new law forcing it to pay publishers for their articles. A Facebook statement said that as a result of the new policy, people in Australia “cannot view or share Australian or international news content on Facebook or content from Australian and international news pages.” It also means that people elsewhere in the world cannot view or share Australian news content on Facebook. I reiterated Australia remains committed to implementing the code. "I believe that it's only fair that [Facebook and Google] pay back a fair amount in return for these benefits," he said to CNET in a statement. Depends on how interested you are in the land Down Under. Facebook announced its decision to ban Australian users from reading and sharing news in a post on the About Facebook blog. The Australian news ban doesn’t come as a shock as both the company and the country have been going at it for some time now. After a weekend of negotiations with Australia's government, Facebook on Monday reversed the news ban. Facebook notified Australian users on the social network about why it was restricting the viewing and sharing of news on its platform. Alongside the Digital Markets Act, the DSA is part of proposed EU legislation designed to clamp down on Big Tech. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Facebook has banned all news sites and posting of news in Australia as it believes that the news companies have more to gain than Facebook in this sort of arrangement. "I suspect that soon we will have five, 10, 15 countries adopting similar rules," he said, according to local media. 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