Facebook ban on Australian news sweeps up domestic violence support sites, emergency services
Facebook has wiped the pages of 1800Respect, and those of domestic violence victims Allison Baden-Clay and Hannah Clarke.
Facebook has wiped the pages of essential services for victims of domestic violence, in a move described by Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman as “outrageous”.
Services such as DV Connect, 1800Respect and a sexual violence counselling service on the Gold Coast have had the content of their Facebook pages deleted, as well as foundations set up by families of victims such as Allison Baden-Clay and Hannah Clarke.
These pages provide critical info & resources for women experiencing DFV, & raise public awareness.
— Shannon Fentiman (@ShannonFentiman) February 18, 2021
Here’s a list of services affected so far:@1800RESPECT@RizeUpAustralia@micahprojects@GCCASV@MenEngage@Redrose48829729#auspol#qldpol
Ms Fentiman said the move was “incredibly outrageous” especially during a pandemic.
“These pages provide critical info & resources for women experiencing DFV, & raise public awareness,” she said.
Sue and Lloyd Clarke, the parents of murdered woman Hannah Clarke, told The Courier-Mail they were deeply upset their Small Steps 4 Hannah page had been blocked.
Mr and Mrs Clarke said they were prevented by Facebook from posting, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of their daughter Hannah’s murder.
“It’s very upsetting,” Mrs Clarke said.
“We were wanting to announce one of our new ambassadors. It’s very, very disappointing.”
Facebook in damage control
Facebook is moving to remove restrictions on a range of pages after health services, fire services, political figures, and charities were caught up in its sweeping ban on Australian news content.
The Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Capital Territory and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA also fell victim to the ban on Thursday morning.
WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup and Victorian Labor are among the political figures and institutions that have also had their social media posts wiped.
SA Health and NSW Fire and Rescue are among those who have approached the social media giant to have their pages reinstated.
A Facebook spokeswoman said the bans across the spectrum were due to the media bargaining code not providing the social media giant with “clear guidance” but restrictions will be lifted soon.
‘Government pages should not be impacted by today’s announcement,” she said.
“As the law does not provide clear guidance on the definition of news content, we have taken a broad definition in order to respect the law as drafted.
“However, we will reverse any Pages that are inadvertently impacted.”
Hey @facebook, I know you're cross with Australia, but this is going too far.
— NickyP (@RealNickyPell) February 18, 2021
These are not news organisations. They are vital community service groups and your app is a lifeline to their clients.
You're not helping your argument here.
Fix it. https://t.co/Ah979ZAGiY
Facebook’s users have expressed alarm about the potential harm it could cause during the middle of the pandemic, as well as bushfire and flood season.
• Comment — Facebook becomes fakebook
It's not just news pages... pic.twitter.com/PdhsWAfob5
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) February 17, 2021
So @Facebook has blocked access to our website. We are not a news organisation. Australian workers can not now find out about their rights at work via @Facebook. This is disgraceful & needs to be reversed immediately pic.twitter.com/588Qf1JbuD
— Sally McManus (@sallymcmanus) February 17, 2021
Blocked pages ‘a public safety issue’
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says he has ordered Facebook to restore the pages of state health departments, fire and emergency service that have been blocked in the sweeping ban.
“That’s a public safety issue,” he said. “There is great responsibility that comes with being a platform that, as the digital platforms inquiry said, that has over 17 million Australians visit it every month.”
“We are very clear that we think this is the wrong action by Facebook. “
Facebook has said it will move to remove restrictions on a range of pages after health services, fire services, political figures, and charities were caught up in its sweeping ban on Australian news content.
News ban came with ‘heavy heart’
Managing Director, Facebook Australia and New Zealand William Easton on Thursday (AEDT) announced its decision to ban users and publishers from sharing or viewing news content, citing Australia’s proposed media bargaining code which it said “fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers”.
Facebook claimed it was left with two options. “It has left us facing a stark choice: Attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia,” Mr Easton said in a statement. “With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”
So Facebook, we’re a charity which tries to help people learn to protect themselves from becoming victims of crime & connect with their community by provide tips & advice. Your #facebooknewsban has sent our page dark too. Why? #FacebookAustralia#FacebookWeNeedToTalk
— Neighbourhood Watch (@nhwvic) February 17, 2021
A number of our members have had their Facebook pages taken down today.
— VCOSS (@VCOSS) February 17, 2021
It looks like they're collateral damage in a fight between Facebook and the Federal Government.
It's beyond outrageous that time-critical information is being denied to vulnerable and at-risk communities. pic.twitter.com/vuSoPPKKg1
So @Facebook has unfortunately disabled our page this morning. We are not a news outlet. We are a wildlife charity.
— Australian Wildlife Conservancy (@awconservancy) February 17, 2021
We are working to resolve this issue. Please support us by opting to stay up to date via our eNews: https://t.co/LTBo52aofDpic.twitter.com/QnTAbZsCv0
Australian Broadcasting Corporation managing director Director David Anderson said it was alarming that one of the world’s largest social media platforms had removed access to vital information in the middle of a pandemic.
Information services collateral damage
At least eight bushfire alerts and a further eight incidents have been listed on the Emergency Services website in the past 24 hours but Australians may struggle to find this information as Facebook’s content ban turned social media pages sharing crucial information blank.
On Thursday several emergency services and government Facebook pages had their content wipe, effectively removing urgent flood, bushfire and pandemic notices from Facebook.
The Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Capital Territory and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA, Queensland Health and Westpac Rescue Helicopter all went blank with Facebook’s ban.
Labor MP Michelle Rowland said regular Australians will struggle to access vital information from today.
“The fact is some 40 per cent of Australians now access their online news through search and social media,” she said.
Harvey Norman, obviously a go-source of trusted news in Australia, has also been banned from Facebook. Surely nothing to do with the fact that HN is a major advertiser in print in Australia? pic.twitter.com/9np3cgHhg7
— Daniel Sankey 🎠(@Daniel_Sankey) February 17, 2021
Radio Australia’s pidgin-language show Wantok, made by and for Pacific islanders, is inaccessible in the Pacific now. pic.twitter.com/n0RlulrXpq
— Dan McGarry (@dailypostdan) February 17, 2021
Well Facebook that's a rather wide definition of news that won't backfire at all. pic.twitter.com/5y7rWGTz4C
— Robert Potter (@rpotter_9) February 17, 2021
ACTU chief slams ‘disgraceful’ move
Sally McManus says Facebook’s news ban has denied Australian workers of finding out about their rights as says
The Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary had failed to upload information about joining unions on Facebook this morning after the union was one of several pages including emergency and government services which had their content wipe.
In a tweet, McManus described the ban as “disgraceful”.
“We are not a news organisation. Australian workers can not now find out about their rights at work via @Facebook,” she wrote.
“This is disgraceful & needs to be reversed immediately.”
FACEBOOK PAGES IMPACTED BY THE BAN
Sutherland Shire Family Services
Fire and Rescue NSW
Neighbourhood Watch
National Debt Helpline
1800Respect
Australian Women Against Violence Alliance
Stopping Family Violence
Queensland Health
SA Health
ACT Health
Bureau of Meteorology
Sacred Heart Mission
Council to Homeless Persons
Mission Australia
DVConnect
The Medical Journal of Australia
FB Official page
ACT Government
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Australian Rescue Helicopter Services
University of Southern Queensland
Monash Uni
Harvey Norman
Betoota Advocate
Sydney Theatre Company
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
UNICEF
AFL Womens
Finder
Edward River Council
Source: The Daily Telegraph
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