Thread by @davrosz

You've probably been following the dispute between Google and Facebook and the Murdoch media's official proxy. the Morrison Gov't
As the publisher of a popular independent news website, I have developed some well-considered views on this deeply corrupt farce.
So here's a thread.

The first thing to understand is that old Uncle Rupert, the repitilian relic, doesn't like the internet. He likes more tangible things, like paper, ink and the entrails of his foes. He also doesn't really understand the internet, but knows what he doesn't like most: aggregators.

He has been railing against these so-called aggregators, by which he means social media platforms and search engines, both personally and through his vast and sinister media conglomerate, for at least a decade. His argument is they are stealing News Corp content by posting links.

Well, not just links, but also headlines and snippets (the first sentence or two). The whole things would be rather funny - look at the silly old duffer getting angry about people sharing his stories! - except Rupert is not just any old duffer. The mad old bastard runs the place.

Now, it goes without saying that if you think your content is being stolen by someone posting the headline and a sentence or two, you mustn't really think much of the rest of your content. But that's News Corp, which is not about news but rather shaping views. It's the vibe, man!

What's changed lately is the ACCC produced a report advising the Government to create a weird scheme were certain publishers were able to effectively charge Google and Facebook - and only them - a fee for posting snippets. Now, the ACCC mightn't be corrupt. It might just be dumb!

And in super double-quick time - surprise, surprise! - the Morrison Government has used this kitty litter lining of a report from the ACCC to move to legislate this idiocy. Because fighting with China is not enough conflict for the geniuses running this dumbocracy.

But stuff Google and Facebook, says Morrison and his gang of dollar store Batman villains, if Rupert wants something, no matter how obviously idiotic, odious or borderline corrupt, Rupert will bloody well get it. His media monopoly is the only thing keeping the LNP in power, ffs.

Now Facebook are looking at retaliating to this threat. Facebook has foreshadowed the most obvious response: to remove news from its feeds. Google is likely to do the same, since news is only a tiny percentage of total searches. And who will this mostly harm? Any guesses?

Not so much the big established publications, such as those in the News Corp stable, who rely less on sharing and searches and more on brand loyalty and penetration, and also sells physical newsprint that will be unaffected by any boycott. No it will be small.indie media like IA.

Of course, @independentaus is likely eligible to apply for the scheme, but as if we are in a position to piss off behemoths like Google and Facebook. And quite obviously, we wouldn't be in a position to make a cent from such a scheme if Google and Facebook ban sharing news.

So either way the Dirty Digger gets what he wants. Either a new stream of revenue from Facebook and Google, or a potentially crippling blow to his emerging online news rivals. Come to think of it, maybe the decrepit old coot does understand the internet? More likely his staff do.

But never fear, this is just the latest in a long series of existential threats @independentaus has faced down and, up to now, somehow overcome. This too will pass, of course, so long as you - the people - stand with us and lend us your helping hands.

Tell Rupert Murdoch and his lackeys, including those in the Morrison junta, to collectively go and ... well .... do something unmentionable to themselves by subscribing independentaustralia.net/about-ia/subsc… and/or donating independentaustralia.net/about-ia/donat… to IA.
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