Reax as Facebook blocks Australians from accessing news

Australia's government on Thursday reacted to Facebook's decision to block Australians from viewing and sharing news on the platform because of proposed laws in the country to make digital giants pay for journalism. Australian publishers can continue to publish news content on Facebook, but links and posts can't be viewed or shared by Australian audiences, the U.S.-based company said in a statement.

Australian users cannot share Australian or international news, and international users outside Australia also cannot share Australian news.

Speaking at a news conference in Canberra on Thursday Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg called Facebook's decision "wrong" and "heavy handed" and warned the company that they were damaging their reputation in the country.

Frydenberg's comments came a day after he detailed "very promising" negotiations between Facebook and Google with Australian media companies. Australia's Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the government would not back down on its legislative agenda and condemned Facebook's actions. 

He described the blocking of Facebook sites such as Australian fire and safety departments and health departments as  "a public safety issue". The Australian Parliament is debating proposed laws that would make the two platforms strike deals to pay for Australian news. The Senate will consider the draft laws after they were passed by the House of Representatives late Wednesday.

Both platforms have condemned the proposed laws an unworkable. Google has also threatened to remove its search engine from the country. But Google is striking pay deals with Australian news media companies under its own News Showcase model.

Imagw: AP