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Meta says it may block news from Facebook in Australia

Economic TimesEconomic Times · 1y ago
Meta says it may block news from Facebook in Australia
Medial

Facebook owner Meta is considering blocking news content in Australia if the government enforces licensing fees, according to a company representative. Meta's regional policy director, Mia Garlick, confirmed that all options are being considered. The company is waiting for the government to decide if it will implement a 2021 law allowing it to set fees for tech giants, such as Meta, to pay media outlets for links. This stance suggests Meta may adopt a similar approach to the one it took in Canada in 2023. Meta has previously struck deals with Australian media companies but will not renew them beyond 2024. Australian authorities are now contemplating whether to force Meta to pay for news content.

Related News

Ex-Facebook engineer reportedly suggested ending People You May Know recommendations of children to adults, but he says execs refused

Business InsiderBusiness Insider · 1y ago
Ex-Facebook engineer reportedly suggested ending People You May Know recommendations of children to adults, but he says execs refused
Medial

According to a former Facebook worker, Meta (formerly Facebook) rejected the idea of disabling the "People You May Know" feature from recommending children to adults, despite concerns of it being used by adults to target minors. The worker claimed that the algorithm was widely used by adults to find children for predatory purposes. The allegations highlight internal disagreements at Meta regarding how to address predatory behavior on the platform. Meta has been making efforts to enhance privacy and child safety, including implementing end-to-end encryption on its Messenger app. However, unsealed documents suggest Meta knowingly has millions of underage users on Instagram.

Facebook turned off the news in Canada. What happened next?

LivemintLivemint · 11m ago
Facebook turned off the news in Canada. What happened next?
Medial

The Online News Act in Canada, similar to a law introduced in Australia, aimed to make tech giants like Google and Meta pay news outlets for their content appearing in search results and social media feeds. However, while Google has agreed to pay C$100m ($74m) annually into a government-run fund for Canadian newsrooms, Meta has blocked news links from its apps since August 2021. This has had a severe impact on news organizations, with Canadian national news outlet Facebook pages losing 64% of engagement and local outlets losing 85%. Despite the news blackout, Meta's ad revenue has grown 19% in the US and Canada, causing concerns over the impact on local news content and the potential for misinformation to fill the gap. News outlets are adapting by exploring alternative ways to reach readers, such as email newsletters and mobile apps, while some readers are sharing screenshots of articles instead of links. Canada's communications regulator will determine later this year if Meta's link-blocking exempts it from making payments, but the experiences in Canada may make other countries reconsider similar legislation.

When Facebook blocks news, studies show the political risks that follow

Economic TimesEconomic Times · 1y ago
When Facebook blocks news, studies show the political risks that follow
Medial

According to right-wing meme producer Jeff Ballingall, Meta's blocking of news links in Canada has led to a significant increase in clicks for his Canada Proud Facebook page. Facebook's decision to block news sharing in Canada, and potentially in Australia, as a result of paying fees to media companies has had a profound impact on the way Canadian Facebook users engage with information. Studies show that the absence of news on the platform has led to increased engagement with opinion-based and non-verified content, potentially undermining political discourse. Other countries, including the UK and California, are also considering legislation to force internet giants to pay for news content.

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