Read on Twitter
News publishers are in completely the wrong mindset here, and it's leading them to fight completely the wrong battle.
Facebook hasn't made a "threat." Facebook has made a statement about what they need to do to survive as a business globally. /1 https://twitter.com/GuardianAus/status/1301361121023188992
Facebook hasn't made a "threat." Facebook has made a statement about what they need to do to survive as a business globally. /1 https://twitter.com/GuardianAus/status/1301361121023188992
It is not workable for Facebook to place themselves into a position where any pissant middle-power civil service dipshit in any country on the planet can obtain a regulatory power to shake them down to subsidize other peoples' business failures. /2
That's not Facebook making a "threat." It's recognition that if it's news today it'll be used car dealers, book shops and department stores tomorrow, when everyone grabs on to the idea that FB has deep pockets and can use them to pay out businesses obsoleted by the internet. /3
There is zero chance that FB will put themselves into that position. Especially when the demands of the Australian news industry alone absorb more than 100% of the gross profit they make from Australian Facebook users. /4
(Remember: Australia is *tiny*, and FB makes US$3 per annum per user. Perhaps an industry that bills subscribers $25 per month needs a cognitive readjustment before it approaches an industry that makes less than 1 cent per day from each active user) /5
Now, the ENTIRE POINT of journalism is that it enables understanding of complex ideas and worldly happenings. If it isn't achieving that, it's objectively failing, and whoever is doing it needs to take up a new career because journalism clearly isn't their thing. /6
When the news industry says, "Hurr derr FB has made a THREAT and they're being INFLAMMATORY and they should BEND TO OUR WILL!" that's them not achieving that: There's complex stuff going on here, and they're doing the opposite of promoting understanding. /7
So, a constructive TL;DR for the news industry: Don't get angry, get better. You're behaving like idiots about this, you need to start getting real.
There is no end-game here which involves FB complying with the ACCC's proposed regulation. None at all. /8
There is no end-game here which involves FB complying with the ACCC's proposed regulation. None at all. /8
FB will restructure its Aust ops to sidestep the ACCC. They'll completely drop all (non-fake) news from Australian users and still eat your advertising lunch anyway.
That is reality. You can't make it go away by screwing your eyes shut and screeching about how unfair it is. /9
That is reality. You can't make it go away by screwing your eyes shut and screeching about how unfair it is. /9
Maybe stop throwing toddler tantrums and tilting at windmills. You're better off calming down, taking stock, and having some coherent thought about what's going to happen instead.
Because with the way you're behaving at the moment, that doesn't look great for you. /end
Because with the way you're behaving at the moment, that doesn't look great for you. /end
