Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is considering the drastic measure of blocking news content on its platform in Australia if the government enforces a policy requiring it to pay licensing fees. This development was revealed during a parliamentary hearing on Friday by Meta’s regional policy director, Mia Garlick.
Garlick told lawmakers that “all options are on the table” when asked whether the company would prevent Australians from sharing news content to avoid incurring these fees. She emphasized that there are numerous other channels through which people can access news content.
Garlick indicated that Meta is currently waiting for the Australian government to decide on the implementation of a 2021 law that grants the government authority to set the fees that U.S. tech giants must pay media outlets for linking to their content.
According to NDTV, these statements mark the most definitive indication yet that Meta may adopt a similar hardline stance in Australia as it did in Canada in 2023, where similar laws were introduced.
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In Australia, Meta had previously entered into agreements with media firms such as News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corp when the law was first enacted. However, Meta has since declared that it will not renew these agreements beyond 2024.
The responsibility now lies with Australia’s Assistant Treasurer to decide whether to intervene and mandate that Facebook pay for news content. The Assistant Treasurer has stated that he is still gathering advice but pointed out that Meta appears to respect the law only when it is convenient for them.
When asked if blocking news from Facebook in Australia would be considered an evasion of the law, Garlick insisted that such an action would, in fact, be a form of compliance.
“Every other law – tax laws, safety laws, privacy laws – we work to comply with. Compliance with this law, if fully enacted, would just look slightly different.”
Garlick also defended Meta’s mechanisms for Australians to report concerns if they believe the company is spreading harmful misinformation or scams. She noted that Meta’s content moderation centers are all located in other countries.
In response to questions about Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, who is suing Meta for featuring cryptocurrency scam advertisements with his likeness, Garlick acknowledged the company’s ongoing efforts to detect and prevent scams, though she admitted there are significant challenges.
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Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young questioned how Meta could justify its status as an advertising business when “some ads sell lies.” Garlick responded by affirming that Meta has policies, systems, and tools in place to minimize the occurrence of such deceptive advertisements.
As Meta and the Australian government continue to navigate this contentious issue, the outcome will likely set a precedent for how major tech companies interact with news media and government regulations worldwide.