Facebook has reached an agreement with the Australian government and will restore newspapers in the country days after it is restricted.
The decision follows negotiations between the technology giant and the Australian government, which will pass a new media law requiring digital platforms to pay for news.
“After further discussions, we are pleased that the Australian Government has agreed to a number of changes and guarantees that address our core concern to allow commercial transactions that recognize the value our platform offers publishers in relation to the value we derive from them. received, “Facebook said. said in an updated statement.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government has just made changes to the proposed media bargaining code that is in parliament and is expected to be voted into law soon.
These changes include a two-month mediation period to enable digital platforms and publishers to mediate transactions before taking arbitration as a last resort.
The arbitration clause in the media bargaining code was one of Facebook’s main objections.
It is stated that according to experts, the arbitrator will decide either in favor of any party – the digital platform or the publisher – without there being room for a middle ground agreement.
Under the amendments, the Australian government will take into account commercial agreements that digital platforms such as Google and Facebook have made with local news media companies before deciding whether the code applies to the technical giants.
The government will also give the digital platforms one month’s notice before reaching a final decision.
The amendments are expected to give digital platforms and news organizations “further clarity” on how the bargaining code will be implemented, the government said.
– CNBC’s Will Koulouris contributed to this report.
This is a breakthrough. Please come and check for updates.