Sydney: Facebook Inc.
has told Australian publishers that he has stopped negotiating license offers, email to the industry seen by Reuters shows, a step that comes only six months after a law designed to make the technology giant pay for news content.
While Facebook has announced an agreement with most of the largest news outlets in the country, several companies including SBS TV broadcasters and smaller publishers have been abandoned coldly, raising questions about the scope and effectiveness of the basic breakwater law.
Australia is the only country with law where the government can set costs if negotiations between technology giants and news providers fail, but the rejected companies are left with a little road for now and are waiting for the government to review laws in 2022 as planned .
The head of the Facebook news partnership, Andrew Hunter, said in the August email to the publisher, he has “now concluded” the offer where he will pay Australian companies for content on the newly launched “News Facebook” channel.
Nick Shelton, Founder Broadsheet Media, a website that published entertainment news, reviews and lists and rejected by Facebook, said the decision to close on a new offer was “clear efforts from Facebook to limit their exposure to the publisher.” Special broadcasting services, or SBS, one of five Australian national free broadcasers and the main source of the country’s foreign language news, said Facebook refused to enter negotiations despite trying and ruled out.
It recorded it had succeeded in concluding the deal with Google.
“These results are contrary to the government’s intention to support journalism of public interest, and specifically include public service broadcasers in the code framework in connection with the remuneration,” SBS spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.
Hunter said in the email to the publisher, which has not been published, denied the publisher will continue to benefit from the clicks directed from Facebook and recommend them tap a series of new industrial grants.
In a separate statement for Reuters, Hunter said the content offer was “only one way Facebook provides support to the publisher, and we have conducted a sustainable discussion with the publisher on the type of news content that can provide the best value for publishers and for Facebook”.
Facebook does not respond directly to questions about statements from Broadsheet Media and SBS.
Social Media Giant A.S.
has signed a transaction with various major Australia media companies including News Corp and Australia’s broadcasting Corp.
and has a bargaining arrangement along with rural publishers.
But only a handful of independent and small publishers have reached an agreement.
Other rejected publishers including conversations, which published comment on public affairs by academics, Reuters had previously reported.
It pushed the warning from the regulator that compiled the law.
The Australian consumer competition and commission declined to comment on Wednesday.
Under the law, which drove Facebook to block third-party content in New Newsfeeds in the country in February, Facebook and Google must negotiate with news outlets for content that encourages traffic to their website or facing the possibility of government intervention.
But before there is government intervention, the federal treasurer must determine that Facebook or Google failed to negotiate with good faith, one step known as “appointment”.
Representative for Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is not immediately available for comments.
Facebook rejection of SBS and flying conversations in the face of the legal core proposition that “must be asked to compensate for public interest journalism”, said Peter Lewis, Director of the Technology Center in charge, a think tank.
“Treasurer does not have an alternative but to review Facebook to ensure that it fulfills its commitment to journalism in public interest in Australia.”
Facebook Wraps Up Transactions With Oz Media Firms, TV Broadcasters
