A top News Corp executive said Australia should require Meta Platforms to pay news publishers for Facebook material and regulate social media firms
Meta declared in March that it would cease paying Australian news publishers for content. The government is currently deliberating whether to implement a 2021 law that would compel it to do so.
News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller asserted in a speech in Canberra that “Meta must be designated under the Media Bargaining Code and challenged to negotiate in good faith,” employing the terminology of the 2021 legislation.
“We reached an agreement; however, they withdrew.” He stated, “They are obligated to renew the agreements and adhere to our laws.”
“We can’t let ourselves be bullied”
The post also portrayed the platforms as free distribution channels that media companies could leverage to broaden their audiences.
Publishers contend that Facebook and other internet giants unjustly profit from advertising revenue when links to news articles are displayed on their platforms.
Meta entered into payment agreements with Australian media organizations in 2021; however, the majority of these agreements are set to expire this year.
Meta may prevent users from reposting news articles if the government attempts to enforce the 2021 law, as it did briefly in Australia in 2021 and has done in Canada since 2023. Canada has similar laws, and academics have observed an increase in the spread of misinformation.
Meta has announced that it will discontinue a Facebook category that promotes news in Australia and has been decreasing its promotion of news and political content to drive traffic.
Miller also expressed his concern regarding the effect of social media on mental health and its exacerbation of social evils, including misogyny and scams, in his speech.
He suggested a regulatory framework for technology companies, including Meta, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter), that he claimed would safeguard Australians.
This would encompass the implementation of competition laws for digital advertising, the imposition of liability on companies for all content on their platforms, the improved management of consumer complaints, and the provision of donations to mental health programs.
According to him, organizations that fail to comply with these regulations ought to be excluded from the Australian marketplace.
A spokesperson for Meta stated,
“The assertion that Meta does not adhere to Australian laws or community standards is absurd.”
According to the statement, the company has restricted access to content by Australian laws, collaborated with law enforcement to prevent real-world damage, and instructed thousands of young Australians in online safety.