O goal is considering blocking news content from Facebook in Australia; if the government forces you to pay licensing feessaid a company representative at a parliamentary hearing on Friday.
Meta regional policy director Mia Garlick told lawmakers “all options are on the table” when asked whether the company would stop Australians from sharing news content to avoid paying fees. “There are a large number of channels from which people can obtain news content,” Garlick said in the survey.
He said Meta was waiting for Canberra to decide whether to implement an untested 2021 law that gives the government the right to set the fees US tech giants pay news outlets for links.
The comments are the strongest indication yet that Meta will take the same tough approach in Australia as it did in Canada in 2023, when that country introduced similar laws.
Agreements with media companies
Meta struck deals with Australian media companies including News Corp and Australian Broadcasting Corp when the law was introduced in Australia, but has since said it will not renew those deals beyond 2024.
Now it’s up to Australia’s assistant finance minister to decide whether to step in and force Facebook to pay for news content. He said he still collects tips, but Meta only seems to respect the law when it’s convenient for her.
Meanwhile, Australia’s two biggest free-to-air broadcasters, Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media, said this week they would cut jobs, citing a loss of revenue when their deals with Meta expire.
Source: Reuters