Meta has rejected Australia's proposed law requiring tech companies to pay local news publishers for sharing news on their platforms, calling the draft legislation "grossly unfair" and "economically incoherent." The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said it is "vehemently opposed" to the rules, arguing they would fail to support a sustainable news industry. The proposed law, unveiled earlier this year, would require firms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to negotiate payment deals with Australian media outlets or face a compulsory levy of 2.25 per cent of their revenue in the country. If no agreement is reached, the government would step in to enforce the payments. Meta warned that the law is discriminatory and poorly designed, claiming it would not benefit Australian journalists or audiences. In 2024, when Australia first proposed similar measures, Meta responded by removing the "news" tab for Australian users. The company reiterated its stance that social media platforms drive significant traffic to news websites, rather than simply extracting value. Supporters of the legislation argue that tech giants profit from news content by attracting users and capturing digital ad revenue that traditional publishers once relied on. Research from the University of Canberra shows more than half of Australians use social media as a news source. The draft law is expected to be introduced in parliament later this year.
Meta condemns Australia's proposed news payment law as unfair while previously cutting off local users from news content when challenged. The company's resistance to compensation contrasts with its power to control access to journalism on its platforms. It removed the news tab in 2024, showing it can act swiftly when its interests are threatened. This highlights a double standard: Meta demands policy flexibility but imposes immediate consequences on users when pressured.
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