Facebook Faces Backlash After Blocking Australian News Service... Australia Reacts, Calling It "Dictator-like"

Prime Minister "We Will Not Be Intimidated"
17 Million Australians Use Facebook Monthly
Australians Also Angry at Facebook's Actions

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Facebook's recent decision not to provide news services in Australia has sparked widespread backlash among Australians.

On the 18th (local time), according to foreign media, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a statement criticizing Facebook's decision to suspend news services within Australia as a "very arrogant decision." He added, "I am in contact with other national leaders to discuss this issue" and "We will not be intimidated."

Mark McGowan, Premier of Western Australia, pointedly remarked, "Facebook is acting like a dictator of North Korea."

According to local media Sydney Morning Herald, Prime Minister Morrison has engaged in international efforts to shape public opinion on the Facebook issue, including discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the payment of news usage fees by global platform companies.

Earlier, when the Australian government pushed legislation to compel global digital platform companies such as Facebook to pay fees for using news content, Facebook blocked news services within Australia the day before.

Josh Frydenberg, Treasurer, described Facebook's action as "very shocking" and said it "will cause an information vacuum in Australia in the future." In fact, BBC reported that about 17 million Australians visit Facebook monthly. It is also known that 37% of all internet users consume news through social networking services (SNS) such as Facebook.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) Australia director said, "Facebook is censoring the flow of information," calling it a "dangerous turning point."

A representative from Amnesty International also pointed out, "The attempt by a private company to control access to information that people rely on is seriously concerning."

BBC reported that many Australians are angry about no longer being able to see news content from local media as well as foreign news organizations on Facebook.

Peter Purse, who lives in Sydney, said, "Facebook could do this not only in Australia but worldwide in the future, and it clearly feels like a restriction of freedom."

Criticism continued outside Australia as well. Julian Knight, Chair of the UK Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, criticized Facebook's actions as "bullying behavior," and The Guardian also pointed out that "(Facebook's action) raises significant concerns."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.