© Associated Press
The Australian government has sharpened its dispute with Facebook over the new media regulations, after today it canceled the advertising campaigns it had planned on the social network, DPA reported.
Australian Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told national radio that the government would download all the ads it was supposed to post on the social network’s website.
The move could cost Facebook up to 10.5 million Australian dollars ($ 8.3 million) a year, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.
Facebook blocked on Wednesday the option for Australians to view and share news on the platform. The reason is a media law by which the government wants to make technology giants pay news publishers – something Facebook and Google strongly oppose. However, Google withdrew from the threat of withdrawing its main search engine from Australia and instead struck deals with some of the country’s major commercial publishers. and international media content will no longer be available or shared by the Australian public.
Birmingham said Facebook’s behavior was inappropriate because the company sought to exert force or influence on the country’s democratic systems. We will continue to be firm about the legislation and we will monitor all these advertising points, he added.
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