Meta lashes out at Australia’s bid to make tech giants pay publishers for news content

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has launched a strong attack against Australia's proposed laws that would compel tech giants to pay publishers for news content. The company declared the draft laws "grossly unfair" and "discriminatory," stating its "vehement opposition" to the legislation.

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Our position is clear: This law is poorly designed, grossly unfair, and will fail to deliver a diverse and sustainable news industry.

Australia's proposed laws aim to address the financial struggles of traditional media companies, which are losing readers and advertising revenue to social media platforms. The legislation targets Meta, Google, and TikTok, giving them the option to strike content deals directly with local publishers. Failure to do so could result in a compulsory levy equivalent to 2.25% of their Australian revenue.

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We are vehemently opposed to this legislation.

Meta argues that the law is "poorly designed" and "economically incoherent," calling it a "discriminatory tax" applied only to a few foreign companies. The tech giant pointed out that competitors offering similar services face no such obligations. This move follows similar actions by Meta in other countries, where it has previously stopped renewing content deals with news publishers.

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It is discriminatory, economically incoherent, and will not deliver the sustainable news sector that Australian journalists and audiences deserve.

Supporters of the laws, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, argue that news content has monetary value and should not be used by large multinational corporations for profit without compensation. Data from the University of Canberra indicates that over half of Australians use social media as a news source. The draft laws are expected to be introduced into parliament later this year, continuing Australia's efforts to regulate big tech.

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It is a discriminatory tax, applied only to a handful of foreign companies.