Facebook’s news blackout in Australia
Australians woke up on Thursday to a shock on Facebook: The news was gone. Rather than pay publishers for stories, a requirement under new legislation, the tech giant wiped the site of information.
But Australians soon discovered it wasn’t just news sites. Pages for state health departments, the meteorology bureau, politicians, nonprofits and more were wiped clean. More frightening was what remained: pages dedicated to aliens and U.F.O.s; one for a community group called “Say No to Vaccines”; and plenty of conspiracy theories.
Facebook initially blamed the proposed law, expected to pass soon, and later promised to restore vital public service pages.
Divided views: Most Australians were outraged, but for different reasons. Some blame Facebook, saying the tech giant has too much market power; some fault the law, which they call too broad; and others say it might be for the best and may help small news publishers swallowed up by big tech.
Analysis: “Australia is an unwitting test lab for what happens to Facebook, news organizations and the public when Facebook is a news desert,” says Shira Ovide, writer of our On Tech newsletter.
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