Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC on October 23, 2019, before the House Financial Services Committee on “An Inquiry into Facebook and Its Impact on Financial Services and Housing” .
Almond Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
Facebook announced on Wednesday that publishers and users in Australia will no longer be allowed to share or view news articles in response to a new proposed media law in the country.
With the legislation, the Australian government wants to oblige online platforms such as Google and Facebook to pay news agencies to display and link their content.
Facebook has decided to prevent publishers and Australian users from sharing and viewing news content in response to the proposed law.
This means that Australian publishers are not allowed to post news content on their Facebook pages. Australian Facebook users cannot view messages from international publishers. Australian users cannot share or view messages on Facebook, and Facebook users worldwide cannot share or view messages from Australian publishers.
Facebook’s decision to ban Australian news from its service is in stark contrast to Google, which announced on Wednesday that it had a revenue-sharing agreement with News Corp. so it can continue to view company news reports about its services.
The company said it will continue to provide Australian users with accurate information from its growing list of information centers. The company will continue to work with Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press as part of its fact-checking program.
