Facebooks move to restrict Australian publishers was a nuclear option, expert says
Summary
He explained that the social networking giant built itself up on the offer of free access, while downplaying the collection of user data and making money off that information. The tech companys decision was slammed by politicians and others alike, particularly after important government, public health-related and civil society-related Facebook pages were swept up by the restrictions. While Facebook went for the nuclear option, like they previously threatened, Google struck prominent deals with major Australian media organizations. Wednesdays restrictions are not going to have a major impact for most Australian Facebook users, according to Suranga Seneviratne, a lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Sydney. Others pointed out that by removing the main source of fact-checked information on the Facebook platform, at a time when misinformation poses a serious problem, the social networking giant is "shooting itself in the foot."