Today
Silicon Valley’s lurch to the right catches the eye of local VCs
Some 15,000 kilometres away from Washington DC, where tech is cosying up to Donald Trump, local start-ups are pondering whether to ride the anti-DEI wave.
- 1 hr ago
- Paul Smith
- Opinion
- Social media
The cravenness of Mark Zuckerberg
It is clear in which direction the influence was being exerted when the Meta boss went to have dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. He goes where the wind blows.
- Jemima Kelly
Yesterday
What Facebook’s shift to ‘bro culture’ means for corporate Australia
Australian executives are openly discussing what they were once too scared to say out loud: has the corporate world’s push for greater diversity gone too far?
- Patrick Durkin and Euan Black
Meta’s ‘free speech’ overhaul sparks advertisers’ concern
Ad bosses say the move to end fact-checking and weaken hate speech policies could cost the platform, where marketing makes up most of its $220b in annual sales.
- Hannah Murphy and Daniel Thomas
‘Cognitively diverse’: Meta’s new workforce mantra
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has axed all policies aimed at creating an equitable workforce as he laments the rise of “culturally neutered” companies.
- Updated
- Amelia McGuire
This Month
- Opinion
- The AFR View
LA burning a reminder that climate action matters to Australia
In a hotter world, the risk of more common, more extreme weather is part of the prudent economic case for improving the environment.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Social media
Meta’s fact-check shift just confirms big tech’s cultural rethink
Mark Zuckerberg’s about-face on free speech is consistent with trends in US-based companies against a background of deepening polarisation and social division.
- Patrick Langrell
Zuckerberg says most companies need more ‘masculine energy’
The billionaire, who launched his career by rating the attractiveness of women at Harvard University, lamented the rise of “culturally neutered” companies.
- Riley Griffin
- Analysis
- Social media
A ‘new era’: Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s Trump reset
Meta and its chief executive have come full circle on content moderation, taking advantage of Donald Trump’s tech-friendly approach to loosen the reins.
- Amelia McGuire
Trump 2.0 has business racing to ditch diversity and climate goals
Corporates face a new reality – one where they stand to benefit immensely, as long as they don’t cross the White House. Australian companies are taking notice.
- Mark Wembridge
Who made Zuckerberg’s $1.4m watch? Take our quiz
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
- Daniel Arbon
Meta reversal on political news boosts case for payments
Facebook owner Meta is facing fresh calls to reopen negotiations to pay Australian media outlets for news content.
- Andrew Tillett
Meta exempted top advertisers from standard content moderation
According to internal documents from 2023 seen by the FT, the Facebook and Instagram owner introduced a series of “guardrails” that “protect high spenders”.
- Hannah Murphy and Madhumita Murgia
- Opinion
- Social media
Fact is, Meta’s following Musk’s populist’s vibe
Whether Mark Zuckerberg made his decision to placate Trump or from a commitment to free speech, it’s a victory for freedom of expression.
- John Roskam
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Meta’s fact-checking about-face is good for Zuck, bad for democracy
Trump’s influence on the politics of big tech will surely embolden Meta to continue to thumb its nose at Australia’s sovereignty.
- The AFR View
Why Spender is right on the tax debate
Readers’ letters on Allegra Spender’s push for reform, why think tanks are doing their jobs properly, Meta’s decision to kill fact-checking and Anthony Albanese’s misplaced priorities.
How TikTok, YouTube and X police their platforms
Meta will replace its professional fact-checkers with a “community notes” system. How do other social media companies moderate content?
- Tess Bennett
Five times Facebook’s fact-checkers got it wrong
Independent fact-checkers working for Facebook have helped debunk hundreds of fake news stories and false rumours, but there have been several high-profile missteps.
- Matthew Field
Zuckerberg wears $1.4m watch to announce end of Meta fact-checks
Mark Zuckerberg wore a rare Swiss watch worth about $1.4 million in a video explaining his company’s policy decision.
- Andy Hoffman and Kurt Wagner
- Opinion
- Social media
Zuckerberg kills off a fact-checking system already on its deathbed
Big tech’s facade of voluntary platform action on false and misleading information has crumbled.
- Rys Farthing