Daily Mail owner accuses Facebook of ‘blackmail’ over Australia news ban
Lord Rothermere said in a letter to the Financial Times that Australia had given in to Facebook and Google in a stand-off over news content.
Lord Rothermere said in a letter to the Financial Times that Australia had given in to Facebook and Google in a stand-off over news content.
Final amendments to the laws were passed after consultation between Canberra and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.
The move follows a similar vow from Google.
The former prime minister – now a Facebook executive – said the social network had no choice but to block news on the service last week.
Facebook blocked Australian users from accessing and sharing news last week amid a clash over a law that would make digital giants pay for journalism.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal said the developer’s dispute with Apple should be handled in the US, but some Google action could proceed in the UK.
Facebook has been under the spotlight after it decided to remove news content from its platform in Australia last week.
Downing Street said it was ‘concerned’ about access to news being restricted in Australia.
The firm last week began removing news content from its platform in the country due to a proposed law.
Scott Morrison warned other countries would follow Australia’s lead in making digital giants pay for journalism.
Julian Knight, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, says pulling plug on Australia ‘the worst type of corporate culture’.
The tech giant has made the decision to ban the sharing or viewing of news links for users in Australia.
Australia is joining France and other governments in pushing Google, Facebook and other internet giants to pay news organisations.
The battle is being watched closely in the European Union, where officials and legislators are drafting sweeping new digital regulations.
It came after legislation forcing Facebook and Google pay for Australian journalism passed the lower house of parliament.