Australia versus Facebook

Facebook executive Simon Milner apologised after the social media company banned access to health accounts before the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Australia. Still, the dispute between Facebook and the Australian government is not yet resolved. What caused this conflict, and who should eventually decide on Facebook’s content? Let’s find out more!

Watch the news report of  BBC News from the beginning (7:23 minutes).

Questions about the video:

1. What caused Facebook to ban health accounts and news sites in Australia?
2. What was the response of the members of the Australian Parliament?
3. What is a possible positive consequence of the news ban according to Dr Susannah Eliott and her colleagues?
4. Why does the ban in the end not resolve the dispute according to Dr Susannah Eliott?

Do you want to learn more about this topic? Read this article from The Guardian about a deal between the British media and Facebook and answer the questions.

Questions about the text:

1. What does the article say about the relation between British media and Facebook?
2. Why was a deal between Facebook and the British media necessary according to the news article?
3. How does the deal between Facebook and British media differ from the proposed law in Australia?
4. How could you summarise the role of Facebook in the distribution of news based on the information in the video and the news article?

Discussion questions:

1. Which news sources do you use to keep up to date? What are the limits and risks of your choice?
2. This is not the first time national governments find themselves in a conflict with a social media platform like Facebook. The content and posts of Facebook are often discussed in relation to themes like elections, fake news, privacy etc. Who should eventually decide on Facebook’s content according to you?

 

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