Meta is still threatening to block news content on its platforms in Australia, telling lawmakers on Wednesday that all options are “on the table” if the government does try and force it to negotiate deals with publishers.
The Facebook owner announced in March that it will not renew its deals with Australian news publishers, cutting off hundreds of millions of dollars from the industry and daring the government to enforce its news media bargaining code.
It drew swift criticism from the Albanese government, which immediately sought advice on enforcement options. It is yet to designate any social media company after the threat of designation spurred the original four-year deals signed in 2020.
Appearing at a House of Representatives social media inquiry on Friday, Meta regional director of policy Mia Garlick said the company had not yet taken a decision on pulling news after not receiving an update from the government.
“We haven’t had any further engagement from the government, and so our position hasn’t changed,” Ms Garlick said.
“And we can’t really comment on hypotheticals at this stage.. [But] all options are on the table.”
That includes the full removal of news content, which Ms Garlick said is “clearly” on the table but no decision has been made.
Meta argues the law upon which the mandatory code is based is flawed because it does not reflect the economics of its platforms. According to the company, news represents less than three per cent of the content on its platforms and news publishers already receive value from referrals.
But the three per cent figure is based on global data and Meta has been unable to provide the inquiry with Australian figures and has resisted attempts to have the claim independently verified.
On Wednesday, Ms Garlick had to take on notice exactly what was included in the three per cent news claim.
Independent MP Zoe Daniel said the company needs to provide a clearer picture.
“I think we need some substantive information on this to place trust in that number of three per cent. And I don’t have a lot of faith in it, in the way it is being framed,” Ms Daniel said.
The House committee is expected to table its final report in mid-November.
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