Facebook 'bully' move in Australia shows need for regulation, UK media trade body says

By Kate Holton

 

A 3D printed Facebook logo is seen in front of displayed Australia's flag in this illustration photo taken February 18, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Facebook’s move to block all media content in Australia shows why countries around the world need robust regulation to stop tech giants behaving like a “school yard bully”, the head of the UK’s news media trade group said.

 

News Media Association chairman Henry Faure Walker said Facebook’s ban during a global pandemic was “a classic example of a monopoly power being the school yard bully, trying to protect its dominant position with scant regard for the citizens and customers it supposedly serves.”

 

“Facebook’s actions in Australia demonstrate precisely why we need jurisdictions across the globe, including the UK, to coordinate to deliver robust regulation to create a truly level playing between the tech giants and news publishers.”

 

The social media giant shocked Australia on Thursday when it blocked all media content from its platform in a stunning escalation of a dispute with the government over paying for content.

 

The move came after the government of Scott Morrison drafted a law to require Facebook and Google to reach commercial deals with news outlets whose links drive traffic to their platforms, or be subjected to forced arbitration to agree a price.

 

The legislation, which is expected to be passed by the Australian parliament within days, prompted Google to seal preemptive deals with several outlets in recent days.

 

Facebook said the law “fundamentally misunderstands” the relationship between itself and publishers and it faced a stark choice of complying or banning news content.

 

Facebook argues that the British media market is different, after it launched Facebook News through partnerships with publishers such as the Daily Mail group, Financial Times, Guardian and Telegraph.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-18

 

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I'd be happy just to have my friends posts and mine and get rid of all the media adverts and rubbish

1 minute ago, RichardColeman said:

I'd be happy just to have my friends posts and mine and get rid of all the media adverts and rubbish

One of the last reasons for keeping Facebook is because of using it as a newsstream. I don’t post any selfies or status update, and I don’t wanna see any of those or my friends. I just enjoy the stream of news. The other one I’m using is Google News. 

17 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

News Media Association chairman Henry Faure Walker said Facebook’s ban during a global pandemic was “a classic example of a monopoly power being the school yard bully, trying to protect its dominant position with scant regard for the citizens and customers it supposedly serves.”

What do they expect? That they can force someone to pay for something? That would be bullying. They have all the right to make a law asking Facebook to pay for contents it steals from others. So does Facebook have the right to say “thanks, but no thanks”.

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

One of the last reasons for keeping Facebook is because of using it as a newsstream. I don’t post any selfies or status update, and I don’t wanna see any of those or my friends. I just enjoy the stream of news. The other one I’m using is Google News. 

Have you not tried reading online newspapers?

38 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

What do they expect? That they can force someone to pay for something? That would be bullying. They have all the right to make a law asking Facebook to pay for contents it steals from others. So does Facebook have the right to say “thanks, but no thanks”.

 

well in fairness facebook isn't stealing anything. the news media wants facebook to pay for the content THEY are posting on their facebook pages plus news that users are posting!

 

sorry but i'm with facebook on this one. if you don't want your news on facebook don't post it there.. its kind of like selling fruit at a market and demanding the market owner buys it just because you brought it there lol

Well done Australia.

Kick them out completely. Total ban.

Facebook are thieves and their excuse is 'but we are only a platform'.

Liars.

 

6 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Kick them out completely. Total ban.

 

Why, do you even know what the disagreement is about?

15 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Have you not tried reading online newspapers?

Do you know any online newspaper that blends together articles from different sources, including newspapers, websites, and blogs, according to your personal interests and what friends recommend? 

All just part of the negotiation. It's like dealing with China.

 

Expect face-saving agreement within days. Smiles, handshakes & photos to follow.

who or what is Facebook and also the other media companies 

 

seems to me they are now some sort of political force 

 

is that where they are going or already have become "political"

 

That is way beyond their remit as a chat room IMO

 

They should not have got involved in politics - yes censor illegal activities that every sensible reasonable person recognises - like terrorism or sexual abuse but they have gone too far 

 

It is quite scary what these media companies have become - power they should not have and I hope governments across the world take notice and do something about it very quickly

10 minutes ago, smedly said:

who or what is Facebook and also the other media companies 

 

seems to me they are now some sort of political force 

 

is that where they are going or already have become "political"

 

That is way beyond their remit as a chat room IMO

 

They should not have got involved in politics - yes censor illegal activities that every sensible reasonable person recognises - like terrorism or sexual abuse but they have gone too far 

 

It is quite scary what these media companies have become - power they should not have and I hope governments across the world take notice and do something about it very quickly

2021 is going to be a defining year for the future of big tech & the power it holds. From China to Australia & just about everywhere else, battles between government & tech are brewing.

 

China: https://gizmodo.com/china-rolls-out-new-anti-monopoly-rules-aimed-at-reinin-1846217803

 

Australia & Europe: https://www.politico.eu/article/australia-copyright-google-facebook-reruns-europe-battle/

8 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

What do they expect? That they can force someone to pay for something? That would be bullying. They have all the right to make a law asking Facebook to pay for contents it steals from others. So does Facebook have the right to say “thanks, but no thanks”.

 

From the Australian government POV it utilises Facebook as a platform for messaging / advisory; any thing from Covid to Bushfire warnings and so on. Facebook has removed all Government content pages from their Australian operation which, IMO, was an unnecessary own goal and really <deleted> off senior government representatives, including the PM.

Like other similar websites, Facebook is a publisher.

 

It publishes materials that people post for free on its site. Great (I guess).

 

And it republishes materials prepared, paid for and published by other publishers. For which it wishes not to pay.

2 hours ago, car720 said:

Why would a people's government tie their ability to broadcast to the citizenry, to a private computer program?

Never claimed the above, only mentioned Facebook is an information platform used by Oz government, a platform approx 10 million have an account in Oz. Of course government has multiple electronic platforms to inform the public. Blocking all Oz government pages was IMO foolhardy.

17 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

One of the last reasons for keeping Facebook is because of using it as a newsstream. I don’t post any selfies or status update, and I don’t wanna see any of those or my friends. I just enjoy the stream of news. The other one I’m using is Google News. 

Interesting. I'm the total opposite. Prefer news from independent media without such a company that not only censors independent media but is clearly politically influenced.

I deleted my Facebook account over eight years ago. Given today's increasing censorship and ambiguity with regards towards street protests & policy within the corporate state that is the US, I'll go with independent credible  media any day. You know, ones that provide references rather than just cultural wars and 'dog whistles' sowing division among the weak minded.

 

????

What us this Book face?

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

LONDON (Reuters) - Facebook’s move to block all media content in Australia shows why countries around the world need robust regulation to stop tech giants behaving like a “school yard bully”, the head of the UK’s news media trade group said.

 

Old people who don't understand how the internet works pretend to make laws governing it...

 

Forcing Facebook by law to pay for things that third parties share on its platform is immensely arrogant and dumb, Mr. Prime Minister, and all the other nitwits who don't understand how the internet works.

The publishers can block their content from being shared, it's not difficult. The problem is that they *want* it to be shared.

And now it's Facebook that is the bully because it doesn't want to re-publish newsstories?

 

Who got that retarded idea?

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, Solinvictus said:

Interesting. I'm the total opposite. Prefer news from independent media without such a company that not only censors independent media but is clearly politically influenced.

Just to avoid misunderstandings: the news I am getting through Facebook (or Google News) are the same “independent media” that you are reading. It’s news written or published by Facebook but by the same “independent media” you may be reading. 

The only difference is that you are visiting and clicking through every newspaper’s website while I’m getting it served as one blended and curated stream. It’s really just more convenient. 

Australia's attempt to force internet providers to pay for local news services makes no sense.  Facebook is a private company and they cannot force them to use the local news services and pay for it.  If they are concerned, they can start their own web site with local news and pay for it.  I doubt it could ever be competitive!

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Facebook’s move to block all media content in Australia shows why countries around the world need robust regulation to stop tech giants behaving like a “school yard bully”

Actually this should read:

 

Facebook’s move to block all media content in Australia shows why countries around the world need robust regulation to stop GREEDY NEWS OUTLETS behaving like a “school yard bully!”

So let me get this straight, news outlets open Facebook accounts so they can post their news there, I’m sure Facebook allowed them to monetize their feeds by posting ads, so the news outlets are actually making money with their Facebook accounts through ad revenue, but apparently that’s not enough so now they want Facebook to pay them on top of the ad revenue they’re already making because Facebook allows them to use their platform, talk about the biting the hand that feeds you, and the UK trade body accuses Facebook?! Just goes to show how fricking delusional these people really are! 

On 2/18/2021 at 1:35 PM, snoop1130 said:

Facebook argues that the British media market is different, after it launched Facebook News through partnerships with publishers such as the Daily Mail group, Financial Times, Guardian and Telegraph.

 

Ban the lot, too much propaganda and conspiracy theories about conspiracy theories.

Would be nice to get the truth somewhere.

1 hour ago, pacovl46 said:

So let me get this straight, news outlets open Facebook accounts so they can post their news there, I’m sure Facebook allowed them to monetize their feeds by posting ads, so the news outlets are actually making money with their Facebook accounts through ad revenue, but apparently that’s not enough so now they want Facebook to pay them on top of the ad revenue they’re already making because Facebook allows them to use their platform, talk about the biting the hand that feeds you, and the UK trade body accuses Facebook?! Just goes to show how fricking delusional these people really are! 

 

No it goes to show how much power Murdoch has across the globe. Pretty much controlling the media in Australia, Canada, the USA and the UK.