Facebook has closed its news tab in Australia as parent company Meta follows through with plans to reduce news content on its platforms. The news tab became inaccessible for Australian users on Tuesday, with Meta stating it will take several days to fully shut down the feature in both Australia and the United States.
Meta's decision to stop paying Australian publishers for news content has drawn criticism from the government and media outlets. A Meta spokesperson said publishers can still use free tools and products voluntarily, adding that the company hopes the government recognises the benefits of these free services.
Australia's assistant competition minister, Andrew Leigh, condemned the move as an 'abrogation of their responsibility' and highlighted potential penalties under the news media bargaining code. He stated that it is reasonable to ask Meta to make a modest contribution to Australian news media to maintain a well-functioning public debate.
There are concerns that if the government designates Meta under the code, forcing payment negotiations, Meta might block news content in Australia, as it did briefly in 2021 and currently does in Canada. Smaller publishers warn they would be most harmed by such an outcome.
The executive director of the Local and Independent News Association, Claire Stuchbery, urged the government to provide financial support to newsrooms if Meta is designated. She noted that local newsrooms have much to lose and little to gain, and that government should ensure public access to diverse information systems.
