A secret deal between Facebook and Network Ten included onerous requirements for the broadcaster to share some 18,000 videos to the social media platform and threats to tear up the $14 million contract if the technology giant was forced to the negotiating table by the government.

Meta, Facebook’s parent, signed deals with the country’s largest media groups to avoid being forced to do so under the government’s News Media Bargaining Code. Details included in those agreements have never been published.