4 ms·

Fb may have overshot. They've not only blocked news pages but gov pages as well. Most people I know in aus have been getting covid updates purely through govern

Fb may have overshot. They've not only blocked news pages but gov pages as well. Most people I know in aus have been getting covid updates purely through government body social media posts. These are now blocked.

incompatible 6y ago
I guess these sites aren't news organizations that would be covered by the proposed media law. Facebook is probably just trying to emphasise its point. Likewise, in restricting the availability of non-Australian news sites to users in Australia.
- nitemice 6y ago
  They're not news organisations covered by the code, but what they publish is news content, according to the code: core news content means content that reports, investigates or explains: a) issues or events that are relevant in engaging Australians in public debate and in informing democratic decision-making; or b) current issues or events of public significance for Australians at a local, regional or national level This just proves how misguidedly sweeping the legislation is. 52A: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bills/r6652_first-reps/toc_pdf/20177b01.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bi...
evad3r 6y ago
Worth noting that at least major ones like BOM, Queensland Health, Queensland Police and Betoota Advocate were blocked but that has been reverted now.
- SilverRed 6y ago
  Those pages were probably in the news category.
g42gregory 6y ago
>> They've not only blocked news pages but gov pages as well. Couldn't this be a viewed as a criminal act by the Australian government? Could they arrest FB employees in Australia for FB HQ blocking their pages, especially with the vital COVID-19 information?
- totony 6y ago
  >as a criminal act What criminal act do you think applies here?
- TobTobXX 6y ago
  Twitter blocked the old US president too. There's no legal repercussion against a private firm.
- brokenmachine 6y ago
  They didn't block their pages, they decided not to provide free hosting for them. Those services are perfectly free to have their own websites that are not paid for or promoted by Facebook.

incompatible 6y ago

I guess these sites aren't news organizations that would be covered by the proposed media law. Facebook is probably just trying to emphasise its point. Likewise, in restricting the availability of non-Australian news sites to users in Australia.

nitemice 6y ago
They're not news organisations covered by the code, but what they publish is news content, according to the code: core news content means content that reports, investigates or explains: a) issues or events that are relevant in engaging Australians in public debate and in informing democratic decision-making; or b) current issues or events of public significance for Australians at a local, regional or national level This just proves how misguidedly sweeping the legislation is. 52A: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bills/r6652_first-reps/toc_pdf/20177b01.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bi...

evad3r 6y ago

Worth noting that at least major ones like BOM, Queensland Health, Queensland Police and Betoota Advocate were blocked but that has been reverted now.

SilverRed 6y ago
Those pages were probably in the news category.

g42gregory 6y ago

>> They've not only blocked news pages but gov pages as well. Couldn't this be a viewed as a criminal act by the Australian government? Could they arrest FB employees in Australia for FB HQ blocking their pages, especially with the vital COVID-19 information?

totony 6y ago
>as a criminal act What criminal act do you think applies here?
TobTobXX 6y ago
Twitter blocked the old US president too. There's no legal repercussion against a private firm.
brokenmachine 6y ago
They didn't block their pages, they decided not to provide free hosting for them. Those services are perfectly free to have their own websites that are not paid for or promoted by Facebook.