FACEBOOK has followed through on its threat to ban Australian news from its platform, wiping many news pages overnight.
The move was in response to a proposed media bargaining code that would force companies like Facebook and Google to pay for news content on their sites.
Australian Facebook users and publishers will be restricted from viewing or sharing domestic and international news.
Overseas users also will be unable to access Australian news content.
Facebook’s action comes after the proposed media bargaining code legislation was passed by Australia’s House of Representatives overnight.
It is now before the Senate.
As part of the mass takedown on Thursday morning, the Facebook pages of many of Sunraysia’s news outlets, including the ABC, Mildura Weekly, The Mildura News, Hit99.5 and Triple M, were wiped, along with those of media organisations across the country.
Facebook has also blocked important government information pages, including the Bureau of Meteorology, police agencies and health departments, many of which were providing vital information about COVID-19.
But the social media corporation claimed it has been left with no choice.
“The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content,” Facebook said in a statement on Thursday.
“It has left us facing a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia.
“With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”
The move was not entirely unexpected.
Facebook first made the threat to ban news for Australians in August and repeated the ultimatum before a Senate inquiry in January.
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the government would not back down to Facebook after it restricted Australian access to news.
“Facebook needs to think very carefully about what this means for its reputation and standing,” Mr Fletcher said.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has spoken with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg following the company’s decision.
“He raised a few remaining issues with the government’s news media bargaining code and we agreed to continue our conversation to try to find a pathway forward,” Mr Frydenberg said.
Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus is demanding the government resolve the dispute, raising concerns about misinformation.
“Facebook is going to dramatically alter the feed that Australians get and restrict the flow of news to Australians, the flow of real public-interest journalism and real news to Australians on Facebook,” he said.
“The question is one for the government to answer instead of patting yourselves on the back. Tell Australians what’s going on with Facebook. It’s something that 18 million or so Australians are affected by.”
