This is not the first instance of Meta taking such action in response to government oversight. In 2021, the company removed its news features from the Australian market after the country passed similar legislation related to compensation. Facebook went as far as preventing publishers from linking their posts on the platform, negatively impacting the pages of Australian government agencies and numerous nonprofit organizations. However, this decision was later reversed.
William Easton, Facebook’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, expressed concerns about the legislation, stating, “This legislation sets a precedent where the government decides who enters into these news content agreements, and ultimately, how much the party that already receives value from the free service gets paid. We will now prioritize investments in other countries, as part of our plans to invest in new licensing news programs and experiences.”
