Smashing Information: Facebook Blocks News Content in Australia

Issue 0, Volume 19

​The De Minimis Team

In response to the Media Bargaining Code enacted by the Morrison Government, Facebook has this morning restricted the publication of all news stories on its site. The Facebook pages of major news services in Australia (as well as, apparently accidentally, several state government departments) are bare of posted content as of this morning. The move came with little warning.

The Media Bargaining Code sees websites such as Google and Facebook forced to pay media companies for content which is hosted or shared. It met with strong pushback from Big Tech, with Google threatening to withdraw services from Australia entirely. 

However, in recent weeks, Google has inked deals worth tens of millions of dollars with various media interests, and is expected to operate in Australia as normal. The deal with Nine Entertainment alone is reportedly worth $30 million.

Facebook has evidently taken a more muscular approach, and it is unclear when, if ever, news will be allowed to be shared freely on the platform. Facebook users logging in on Thursday morning were greeted with the following statement: “In response to Australian government legislation, Facebook restricts the posting of news links and all posts from news Pages in Australia. Globally, the posting and sharing of news links from Australian publications is restricted.”​

Thomas Baker and JJ Rouse, Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbotsford

The new law has been criticised by some Labor members on the grounds that it will advantage big institutional media players, such as Rupert Murdoch’s Newscorp, whilst disadvantaging small and independent news outfits. 

Independent journalistic organisations, such as Michael West Media and The Juice Media, have reportedly been told they are unlikely to be paid under the Code.

In response to the recent move by Facebook, De Minimis wishes to inform the world that it will no longer be a news organisation. Instead, we are moving into the production and distribution of novelty hats, as reflected by our new trading name: HatMinimis.

De Minimis sells premium new and used novelty hats. Hats for charming chaps and ladies – cover your noggin with De Minimis!

Note from the Online Editor: In a bid to bring you the content you know and love, we’re starting an Instagram account! And a weekly newsletter (soon)!
For now, you can find us on Insta @mlsdeminimis