Social network will restore news pages after amendments to media bill An agreement has been reached between Facebook and the Australian government over changes to the proposed media bargaining code, reports Reuters. The deal means that Facebook will begin restoring news pages taken down in response to the original draft of the code. The changes centre on… [Read More]
Facebook bans sharing of Australian news
Stakes are raised as media industry faces watershed moment The Financial Times reports on the latest move in the debate on the news media law due to come into effect in Australia. Facing the requirement to license news from publishers, Facebook has instead blocked news from Australian publishers anywhere on its platform. Amid mounting criticism, the… [Read More]
Content regulation may cement dominance of big platforms
Competing start-ups may not have the resources to comply Jimmy Wales has argued that laws on harmful content may result in stamping out challengers to big platforms, reports the Daily Telegraph. In a hearing with a UK House of Lords committee, the founder of Wikipedia pointed out that onerous legal obligations wold mean that only the largest… [Read More]
Compliance in Digital World: Are Pricing Algorithms Anti-competitive?
The 2020 pandemic and related restrictions on retail businesses led consumers redirecting their purchasing and spending to online sales. For example, in the EU and UK, online sales reportedly grew by 30-40% after lockdown restrictions were introduced in March last year. This trend has shone a light on certain online sale practices that raise concerns… [Read More]
Microsoft offers support for Australian media code
Bing search engine could be expanded if Google withdraws In contrast to Google and Facebook, Microsoft has announced its backing for the proposed media law in Australia, reports Reuters. It described the new code as a ‘reasonable attempt to address the bargaining power imbalance between digital platforms and Australian news businesses’. Microsoft said it will… [Read More]
Google escalates response to proposed Australian news law
Search engine could be disabled if code on content payment is enforced ‘Unworkable’ is how Google’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand described the new law on payment for news content, reports Bloomberg. Mel Silva told a parliamentary hearing that if the proposed new code, requiring platforms to pay for displaying third party news, became law… [Read More]