Facebook: Global backlash grows over ‘idiotic’ tech giant

Global outrage has exploded over Facebook’s bombshell decision to wipe news in Australia, as users turn their backs on the social media giant.

Facebook is today facing a worldwide push for users to delete their accounts with the social media giant after it wiped Australian news from the platform.

The bombshell move, that yesterday took the federal government by complete surprise, sparked fierce backlash with “Delete Facebook”, “Boycott Zuckerberg” and “Facebook, We Need to Talk” all trending on rival site Twitter.

It also made front pages in the UK, with outlet Metro splashing “#delete FACEBOOK: Worldwide campaign to ditch social media bully”.

How UK media outlet Metro covered Facebook’s Australian news ban. Picture: Supplied

The ban also featured on The Guardian’s front page. Picture: Supplied

Google Australia told News Corp “Delete Facebook” has been a breakout search in the past 24 hours in Australia. Search interest for the term spiked over 5000 per cent.
Among related queries, “boycott Facebook” has spiked 1250 per cent along with the top trending question “Why did Facebook ban Australian news?”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that there was “a lot of interest” in Australia’s media bargaining code — the legislation that prompted Facebook’s brash action.

The code, which is currently being voted on in parliament and is expected to win support in both houses, would force tech giants to pay for the news they use.

Mr Morrison said that on Friday he had spoken to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the legislation, and previously had discussions with Canada’s leader Justin Trudeau and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He urged Facebook to follow Google’s lead and engage “constructively” with his government over the laws.

Google had also threatened to leave Australia if it was forced to pay for news, but in the time since has struck a number of deals with local publishers and looks set to stay put.

Mr Morrison said he was happy to listen any “technical issues” Facebook had, but added they would have to play by Australia’s rules if they wanted to operate here.

“They’re happy to listen to them on the technical issues of this, just like we listened to Google and came to a sensible arrangement,” Mr Morrison said.

“But the idea of shutting down the sorts of sites they did yesterday, as some sort of threat, I know how Australians react to that and I thought that was not a good move on their part.”

He said “threats” were not a good way to deal with his government.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that there was “a lot of interest” in Australia’s media bargaining code. Picture: Getty Images

Australian social media platform LITT said it had seen a 30 per cent increase (2,700 new members) in time since Facebook turned news off for locals.

LITT also claimed investor interest in the app had increased by 38 per cent.

The app says it bring together “social media”, digital payments, e-commerce and augmented reality advertising”.

“The past 24 hours has seen unprecedented growth for our platform, which is currently undergoing a national roll out, and midway through a capital raise with investors,” LITT Cofounder, Peter Salom, said

Mark Zuckerberg has been slammed over Facebook’s decision to block the sharing of news on its Australian site. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

‘SCHOOLYARD BULLY’, ‘BULLDOZER’: FACEBOOK’S MOVE SLAMMED

International political figures also slammed Facebook as “schoolyard bully” trying to “bulldozer” over democracy as backlash grows after its shock decision.

US politician, Democrat David Cicilline, said via Twitter that “Facebook is not compatible with democracy” as people were also urged to give up Instagram and WhatsApp because Facebook owns them.

“Threatening to bring a country to its knees to agree to Facebook’s terms is the ultimate admission of monopoly power,” Mr Cicilline said.

“It is one of the most idiotic but also deeply disturbing corporate moves of our lifetimes,” added British MP Julian Knight.

“I’m almost speechless which is quite rare for a politician,” Mr Knight, who chairs British Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, told Sky News in the UK.

“Australia’s democratically elected government is democratically elected. And they have the right to make laws and legislation. And it’s, it’s really disrespecting democracy to act in this fashion,” he added.

“We represent people and I’m sorry but you can’t run bulldozer over that – and if Facebook thinks it’ll do that it will face the same long-term ire as the likes of big oil and tobacco,” Mr Knight told Reuters.

“Facebook always claimed it is a platform,” added Mr Knight. “It very much looks like it is now making quite substantial editorial and even political decisions.

If it is not already clear, Facebook is not compatible with democracy.

Threatening to bring an entire country to its knees to agree to Facebook’s terms is the ultimate admission of monopoly power. https://t.co/0JjTqtQhku

— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) February 17, 2021

“This for me strengthens the case for robust online harms legislation and for the UK to use competition law in order to try and secure an equitable arrangement for our journalism.’

“It is arrogant, particularly during a pandemic, to basically turn off the taps to a great deal of news. It is not being a good global citizen.”

Asked whether the UK should now make Facebook pay for hosting content, he said: “Yes, I think there is a case. If they are effectively monetising other people, then they should pay for it, in my view.

“This bully boy action that they’ve undertaken in Australia will I think ignite a desire to go further among legislators around the world.”

Henry Faure Walker, the chairman of Britain’s News Media Association, described the ban during the global COVID-19 pandemic as “a classic example of a monopoly power being the schoolyard bully, trying to protect its dominant position with scant regard for the citizens and customers it supposedly serves”.

Facebook blocked content from Sky News UK even though it is not affiliated with Sky News Australia. Picture: Sky News

Facebook was branded “arrogant” and “unconscionable” banning Australian users from sharing news Thursday, as its defiant response to government regulation inadvertently crippled the pages of several emergency services.

The California firm effectively stripped news from Facebook Australia — claiming Australian government proposals it pay for news were unworkable, forcing it to make the move “with a heavy heart”.

But the company’s haphazard way of implementing its new regimen impacted other global news sites: also missing from Facebook on Thursday were the pages of the UK’s Daily Telegraph, which shares a name with Sydney’s Daily Telegraph despite being a separate company, and Sky News UK, which is also separate from its Australian counterpart.

Originally published as Facebook: Global backlash grows over ‘idiotic’ tech giant