According to whistleblowers, Facebook’s Australia news ban was intentionally overblocked.
As a negotiating tactic, Facebook used an overzealous blocking system that took down the pages of Australian emergency services last year, Whistleblowers claimed.
Over a dispute about paying news providers, the social network decided to block all Australian news outlets.
However, fire and state health services were also disrupted during the fire season and Australia’s vaccine rollout.
Facebook claims that blocking other pages was an honest mistake.
Former employees, backed by the Whistleblower Aid charity, claim the company purposefully “over-blocked” Australian pages during a critical period in order to gain leverage over the Australian government.
Over a dispute about paying news providers, the social network decided to block all Australian news outlets.
However, fire and state health services were also disrupted during the fire season and Australia’s vaccine rollout.
Facebook claims that blocking other pages was an honest mistake.
Former employees, backed by the Whistleblower Aid charity, claim the company purposefully “over-blocked” Australian pages during a critical period in order to gain leverage over the Australian government.