I’m a bit forgiving here since it’s being reported from other side of world but this threat by Facebook is missing much context including a multi-year antitrust investigation by ACCC which started earlier than rest of world. China/TikTok/Trump context isn’t even that relevant.
I do applaud we don’t have to read a Ben Thompson quote missing same nuance along with mechanics of mandatory code for Google and Facebook. In Google’s round of lobbying last week, they promoted Thompson hard and even used monopoly to spread G’s propaganda on every search result.
FB and Goog’s main arguments here still come from last decade as they boast about the clicks/traffic they drive. These investigations are so much smarter and fully examine G/FB’s data practices and no longer simply give them a pass because their products pretend to be “free.”
France already had a word for Google and Facebook as they made the same threat to pull out rather than pay. You can be certain US and U.K. regulators are also paying attention down under. Facebook and Google are walking a tight wire and won’t avoid falling with these tactics.
So bottom-line what matters here is mandatory code now moves to Parliament so FB/G are trying to swing the public. But ACCC has done fabulous groundbreaking work. FB and Google should be paying up to 10% of their revenues. See why they want to stem this tide from rest of world???
ps love Campbell Brown, former journalist, gets to play Facebook lobbyist from other side of world to fight having to fund journalism. Old enough to remember 2yrs ago when she reportedly threatened news publishers to prepare for hospice. Hollow promises now. Important context!!! 
Apologies in advance if I scream at any journalist who shares Facebook's blog post but I've been saying for years please share your colleague's actual reporting even if a competitor. Don't help spread @nick_clegg lobbying. btw, of course they leaned into this dumb, tired point.
this Facebook math ⬆️(stolen from Google playbook) to telling publishers to kneel to the value of their billions of clicks is especially amusing when you consider FB's reaction ⬇️ to @kevinroose reporting where FB actually sends its clicks. No, no not the clicks! The reach!
back to this important context from earlier today. Yes, Facebook news cycles move quick y'all.
Please add to my arrows -> Facebook blocks all news traffic, takes its ball and goes home.
Please add to my arrows -> Facebook blocks all news traffic, takes its ball and goes home.
and here is a good @wired report just yesterday touching on how Google worked to try to drum up public opinion last week leveraging its search monopoly. wired.com/story/can-aust…
I want everyone to stop and think for just a moment. When Google is using its search monopoly pages for company propaganda and Facebook is threatening to block all links to news... who do you think has more risk here? News publishers or the duopoly? Think.
and reminder what happens this spring when Google tried to leverage its same dominance by removing news content/snippets from its pages to punish publishers for trying to get payment for their content. techcrunch.com/2020/04/09/fra…
Great. First report I've read that wasn't under Facebook's embargo. Strongly recommend as it accurately captures the nuances (and hypocrisy) of what is actually going on as Facebook's Zuckerberg and Campbell Brown threaten the market. afr.com/technology/fac…
“Facebook doesn't ban fake news, it only tags it, but it is now saying it is prepared to ban actual news in order to tap out of a legislative process that is not going its way ... and that it is doing so to ‘protect the long-term vibrancy of Australia’s news and media sector’” 😂
Another report, this time from FT...also super well covered. Comment from me in the kicker. ft.com/content/a67551…
Bam. I must say I appreciate the speedy backbone in Australia. Yellow highlight is my own emphasis.
"Australia makes laws that advance our national interest. We don't respond to coercion or heavy handed threats wherever they come from." - AU Treasurer (Josh Frydenberg)
"Australia makes laws that advance our national interest. We don't respond to coercion or heavy handed threats wherever they come from." - AU Treasurer (Josh Frydenberg)
OMG. LOOK AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS just now to Facebook's attempt to use its dominance by joining Google's public lobbying and threatening Australians it will block all news in order to avoid funding it. The comments are immediate and absolutely brutal. smh.com.au/business/compa…
I really can't believe @nick_clegg hasn't given up yet, @carolecadwalla. What a disaster. These comments are brutal. smh.com.au/business/compa…
