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Facebook blocks Australians from sharing news in row over purchasing content

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – In a surprise retaliatory move, Facebook blocked Australians from sharing news stories after the country’s House of Representatives passed legislation that would require the social media giant to pay for Australian news content, the Washington Times reports. The proposed legislation has yet to be passed in the Australian Senate.

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in a statement that Facebook gave no warning it would block users from sharing existing news stories, and that it did so even though the proposed legislation is not yet law, the Washington Times reports. Australian news outlets found they could not post content and users who tried to share news stories were told: “This post can’t be shared.”

Giving an explanation for its move, Facebook informed users: “In response to Australian government legislation, Facebook restricts the posting of news links and all posts from news pages in Australia. Globally, the posting and sharing of news links from Australian publications is restricted.”

The move prompted anger from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who posted on his Facebook page: “Facebook’s actions to unfriend Australia today, cutting off essential information services on health and emergency services, were as arrogant as they were disappointing.”

The PM added that such actions confirm increasing concerns worldwide that Big Tech companies have more power than national governments do. “They [Big Tech companies] think they are bigger than governments and that the rules should not apply to them,” Morris said in his post. “They may be changing the world, but that doesn’t mean they run it. We will not be intimidated by BigTech seeking to pressure our Parliament.”

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