Facebook Threatens to Block News in Australia Over Proposed Legislation

Australian legislation is meant to help publishers

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Facebook is threatening to ban users in Australia from sharing local and international news if pending legislation that would require the social media behemoth to alter its financial agreements with media organizations is passed.

Legislators who released a draft of the legislation in July have said they see the proposal as an attempt to force platforms to better compensate publishers that depend on social media feeds to drive traffic to their own properties.

“We share the Australian Government’s goal of supporting struggling news organisations, particularly local newspapers, and have engaged extensively with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that has led the effort,” said Will Easton, Managing Director, Facebook Australia & New Zealand, in a blog post.

“But its solution is counterproductive to that goal,” Easton continued.

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