Meta Threatens to Block News Content in Australia Over Licensing Fees
In a bold move, Meta, the owner of Facebook, is considering blocking news content from its platform in Australia if the government enforces licensing fees. This revelation came during a parliamentary hearing on Friday, where Meta’s regional policy director, Mia Garlick, stated that “all options are on the table” in response to questions about potentially blocking Australians from sharing news content to avoid paying fees.
Garlick emphasized that there are numerous other channels for people to access news content, indicating that Meta is prepared to take a hardline approach if necessary. The company is awaiting a decision from Canberra on whether it will implement a 2021 law that allows the government to set fees that U.S. tech giants must pay media outlets for sharing links.
This stance mirrors Meta’s actions in Canada in 2023 when similar laws were introduced, leading to the termination of agreements with Australian media firms like News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. While Meta initially struck deals with these companies when the law was first enacted in Australia, it has since announced that it will not renew those arrangements beyond 2024.
The decision now rests with Australia’s assistant treasurer, who must determine whether to compel Facebook to pay for news content. The assistant treasurer has expressed concerns about Meta’s selective compliance with the law, suggesting that the company only respects it when convenient.
Meanwhile, Australia’s major free-to-air television broadcasters, Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media, have announced job cuts due to revenue losses once their agreements with Meta expire. When questioned about the potential implications of blocking news content in Australia, Garlick argued that such action would actually be in compliance with the law.
Despite facing criticism for allowing harmful misinformation and scams to proliferate on its platform, Garlick defended Meta’s processes for addressing these issues. She acknowledged the challenges of detecting and preventing scams, particularly in cases like the lawsuit filed by Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest over cryptocurrency scam advertisements featuring his likeness.
In response to concerns raised by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young about the prevalence of deceptive ads on the platform, Garlick reiterated Meta’s commitment to implementing policies and tools to combat false advertising. The ongoing debate over licensing fees and content regulation highlights the complex relationship between tech giants like Meta and the governments seeking to hold them accountable.
