Facebook says it will ban publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram if a proposal to force tech giants to pay for news becomes law.
Over the past decade, news media companies have been at the mercy of big tech platforms’ algorithms in delivering them readers. But with no guarantee of sustained revenue, media firms are looking elsewhere.
‘Suck it and see’ or face a digital tax, former ACCC boss Allan Fels warns Google and Facebook
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Tech giants don't like Australia's plan to force Google and Facebook to pay for news, to fund public interest journalism. But the government may well respond with a digital tax, says Allan Fels.
Following a privacy policy change in 2016, Google has collected users’ data from third-party websites and apps. The ACCC argues users were misled into signing away their privacy.
Last year, men were more likely to report losses to investment fraud, while women were the main target for romance fraud. Overall, men reported higher financial loss.
As news media revenues tumble still further amid the COVID-19 recession, the government has pledged mandatory rules to force tech giants to pay for using news content.
The government has told the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to develop a mandatory code of conduct to address bargaining power imbalances between media companies and digital platforms such as Facebook and Google
The ACCC’s inquiry was launched to address concerns about the market power of major digital platforms, such as Google and Facebook, and their impact on Australia’s businesses and media.
Media Files: ACCC seeks to clip wings of tech giants like Facebook and Google but international effort is required
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In Dickens' era, international copyright law developed from a worldwide effort to deal with a global problem. Is it time to tackle tech giants the same way? A journalist and a media owner explain.
Google and Facebook attract plenty of users and advertising dollars in Australia, but the ACCC will have to work with other watchdogs overseas on any effective regulation.
The ACCC Digital Platforms Report recommends several ways to revive journalism in the social media age, including A$50m in direct grants to local news services.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says the sheer dominance of Google and Facebook has distorted other businesses’ ability to compete on their own merits.