Facebook Has ‘Tentatively Friended Us Again’: Aus PM Amid Row

Scott Morrison said at a press conference that Facebook is back at the negotiating table.

Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: iStock)

Two days after Facebook silenced all news publishers from Australia on its platform, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday, 20 February, that the company is back at the negotiating table.

The company has “tentatively friended us again,” Morrison was quoted as saying by Reuters during a news conference in Sydney, adding that he is pleased that Facebook is back at the negotiating table.

The tech giant’s decision to stop people from sharing news also resulted in Facebook inadvertently banning pages of government health departments, fire and rescue services, Suicide Prevention Australia, and charities.

The developments unfolded after the Australian government proposed a law that forces social media platforms to pay publishers for using their content.

However, Facebook has not indicated any change in its opposition to the said law. Earlier, in a blog post, Facebook defended its action stating the proposed Australian law “fails to recognize is the fundamental nature of the relationship between our platform and publishers.”

(With inputs from Reuters)