‘Toxic’: News boss takes aim at social media

The head of News Corp has urged federal parliamentarians to force social media giant Meta to renew funding news, saying the social media giant was “preparing to blackmail” Australia.

Meta – the parent company of Facebook – announced in March it would not renew commercial deals with Australian media companies at a cost of an estimated $70m and many jobs.

News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller told a joint select committee on Social Media and Australian Society on Friday the experience of the media in dealing with Meta showed how they operated.

“The experience of Australia’s media companies in dealing with social platforms, particularly Meta, is important because right now Meta is preparing to blackmail not just we in the news industry, but also you as a government,” Mr Miller said.

“By refusing to renew its agreement to pay for news content, Meta is daring Australia to apply the laws this parliament was united in passing three years ago.

“It is getting ready to say: ‘If you dare designate us under the Media Bargaining Code, we will punish you by blocking Australian access to local news.’

“This is an illustration of the way they behave. They don’t negotiate, they dictate.”

Mr Miller said the claim by Meta and other social media companies that their users were not interested in news was “absolutely not true”.

“Meta says that news makes up less than three per cent of what people see on Facebook.

That is also not true,” Mr Miller said.

“Actually 48 per cent of Australians get their news using a Meta platform.”

He said the Media Bargaining Code had funded journalism jobs, and News Corp Australia had invested in enhancing digital and video skills, and relaunched its cadet program.

Mr Miller said the Media Bargaining Code fight was an important one to have with Meta.

“If we want to bring the social media giants under control on an issue as big as the lives of our children, then we cannot surrender on a smaller but also incredibly important matter like the Media Bargaining Code,” he said.

“If we cave in on this, we’re caving in on everything.”

He said social media companies can block harmful content.

“I find it surprising that the platforms can easily block the news, but they can’t block the content that targets Australians,” he said.

“They can block this harmful content. And they will … if you make them.”

The inquiry’s first public hearing will also hear from Nine Entertainment, Seven West Media, the ACCC, ACMA and the eSafety commissioner on Friday.

The Albanese government established the inquiry in May to investigate how the social media giants deal with media and other issues including children’s access, the effect on Australians mental health, and how dangerous and illegal content can be managed.

It’s due to deliver an interim report in August and a final report on November 18.

More to come