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Facebook tried to restart talks with major news outlets Nine Entertainment Co and News Corp Australia about payment for use of their content after implementing a nationwide news ban, but is still refusing to remove key provisions that allow it to terminate the deals if the news media bargaining code becomes law.
The social media platform shocked local users on Thursday when it blocked news articles on its platform and accidentally wiped the pages of government departments, charities and health pages.
Facebook banned local and international articles from its platform on Thursday. By Friday, it was trying to strike commercial deals.
February 22, 2021 8:51
The Guardian Australia cemented its weeks-long negotiations with Google over the weekend, entering into a multi-year News Showcase agreement just days after Seven West Media, News Corp and Junkee did the same. Nine Entertainment Co is understood to also be close to signing a deal.
The deal also comes just days before the Senate is set to debate the News Media Bargaining Code, which was passed through the House of Representatives last week, prompting Facebook to, without warning, strip its platform of news in Australia.
The Guardian Australia’s managing director, Dan Stinton, called attention to the misinformation which will now live unchecked on Facebook, telling Mumbrella: “Obviously Facebook is already struggling to moderate the mass of disinformation that is so prominent on its platform. The best antidote to this is the promotion of fact-based journalism, so this decision risks making the platform the permanent home of cat videos and conspiracy theor
Facebook and Google are taking vastly different approaches to an escalating battle in Australia that could reset the relationship between tech and media.
Facebook returns to the negotiating table one day after news ban theage.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theage.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Facebook returns to the negotiating table one day after news ban smh.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smh.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.