Posted on 09/08/2021 8:29:36 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Facebook has introduced a feature that effectively allows media companies to turn off comments on their Facebook pages.
Australia’s highest court found that newspapers and television stations that post articles on Facebook Inc.’s FB -1.07% platform are liable for other Facebook users’ comments on those posts, a ruling that could prompt traditional publishers to rethink how they engage with social media.
“We are obviously disappointed with the outcome,” said a Nine Entertainment spokesperson. “It will have ramifications for what we can post on social media in the future.”
A reform of Australia’s laws, aimed at giving media companies stronger defenses in court, is already under way and some Australian states have approved changes. A second stage of reforms, including looking at whether online platforms should be held liable for comments from third-party users, is also being considered.
At one point, Facebook removed news from its platform for Australian users—though it restored it a few days later following a public uproar and after the Australian government agreed to make small changes to the law. Facebook afterward signed deals with publishers, including News Corp, for content. Alphabet Inc.’s Google also signed deals with publishers, including News Corp.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Greed and overreach are what will bring them down. A slow process.
And they’re all in bed with News Corp.
Quelle suprise.
No uppity talk allowed from the slaves..
Wait. If someone posts something he becomes liable for what other people say about it? This is madness. I think that’s what this poorly written article is saying.
Pretty clever way to destroy freedom of speech. Simply hold a powerful third party responsible for what you say. That third party is then highly motivated to silence you. Why even take a chance that you might say something controversial?
Australia’s liberal government (which includes the misnamed ‘conservatives’) have earned their places between a wall and a firing squad.
Facebook sells ads on social media websites and mobile applications and are the primary source of Facebook’s revenue. Until the users, not me I wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot PC, of facebook realize they are being muted in violation of the first amendment and that originally the service advertised itself as an open forum, it will continue.
If no one uses facebook, then their sponsors will not consider it an economic plus and will pull their financial support. If you can’t play, you can’t win.
wy69
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.