Facebook and Google Threatening to Take Their Ball

It’s an “I’m not playing with you anymore” tantrum on another level. Google and Facebook are taking their football with them, so Australia can’t play anymore.

Many avid users of the internet would have seen notices from both Google and Facebook alike making threats around the way content will work in Australia on their respective platforms if the Government is to follow through on a mandatory Code of Conduct on News Media.

There has been a lot of propagandising on the issue, which has made it difficult for consumers to understand what is actually happening.

Technology is developing faster than our laws ever can. A foundation of our democratic society is to allow people to provide their feedback on all aspects of political decision-making. While this is an important process to ensure political power also rests in the hands of Australian residents, whether of voting eligibility or not, it creates a slow pathway between identifying an issue and rectifying and issue.

An inquiry by the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) on the direction of the then Treasurer (current Prime Minister) Scott Morrison MP commenced in December 2017 into Digital Platforms.

During this consultation work, including public consultation, stakeholder meetings, a draft…