Facebook to invest in Australia's news industry

Facebook to invest in Australia's news industry

After a heated argument with the Australian government which led to the social media company blocking Australian news pages on its platform, Facebook has decided to invest up to $1 billion in installments in the Australian news industry. 

Facebook follows Google's previous 1billion investment in the news industry. More tech companies are under fire from governments worldwide over their business practices and the rampant spread of false information on their platforms. Canada is allegedly considering creating a bill similar to the one drafted by the Australian government.  

Australian news pages regained access to their Facebook accounts 

In a gesture meant to assure the Australian government of its motives, Facebook unblocked the Facebook pages of Australian news agencies that were blocked last week. The tech giant also obtained some concessions from the Australian government. The bill, which would have seen Facebook pay news agencies that use its platforms, received a few amendments.   

Facebook's blocking of news pages had a ripple effect on the Australian media. Most news agencies had a reduction in the number of views and clicks on their news articles. 

Facebook explained its actions in a blog post. According to the blog post, Facebook restricted the accounts because of a “fundamental misunderstanding” between Facebook and news agencies.

Facebook also blocked pages unrelated to the news industry 

In the blog post, the tech company admitted and apologized for mistakenly blocking pages unrelated to the news industry. The pages-in addition to news-related pages- have all been unblocked. 

Facebook said during a recent press release that it previously spent up to $600 million in the news industry around 2018-2019. 

The company also said it was in talks with news publishers in European countries like Germany and France to create a deal similar to the one it has with Australia. Facebook hopes the move will help users locate authenticated news articles in their social feed.

Similar

Ghana shuts down LGBTQ+ rights facilities
Ghana shuts down LGBTQ+ rights facilities
In a move that has drawn censure from foreign human rights groups, Ghanaian security forces closed down the office of a well-known LGBTQ rights group situated in Accra after politicians, media personalities, and religious leaders spoke against the facility.  The facility released a statement via...
Original design ideas: how to give new impetus to your site
Original design ideas: how to give new impetus to your site
Often times the design of a site is what determines its success, but unfortunately there are no general guidelines that dictate when a site is aesthetically beautiful. The important thing is to stand out from the crowd and present visitors with a design that adapts to the content of the site. In...
Tips for finding the owner of a collarless dog
Tips for finding the owner of a collarless dog
Flooding animal shelters, it is possible to come across collarless dogs wandering around the city without their owner. So, in order to find the rightful owner of a collarless dog, it is wise to follow a few essential steps. Here is an article on the best way to reunite a collarless dog with its...