CNN stated that it has stopped posting articles on its Facebook page in Australia on the grounds that the court ruled that publishers are responsible for defamation in public comments and that the social media company refused to help it ban comments in the country. This move makes AT&T’s CNN the first major news organization since the Australian High Court ruled this month that publishers are legally responsible for comments posted below stories, even if the stories themselves are not defamatory.
CNN is not prominent in Australian media consumption, but if other media follow suit, this decision may have repercussions throughout the industry. CNN stated that Facebook rejected a request to help CNN and other publishers ban public comments in the country after the ruling. A CNN spokeswoman said in a statement: “We are disappointed that Facebook has once again failed to ensure that its platform becomes a place for credible news reports and users to have fruitful conversations about current events.”
She added that CNN will continue to publish content on Australia’s own platform. A Facebook spokesperson said that recent court decisions indicate that Australia’s defamation law needs to be reformed, and the company looks forward to “more clarity and certainty in this regard.” “Although we are unable to provide legal guidance to CNN, we have provided them with the latest information on using the tools we provide to help publishers manage reviews,” the spokesperson said. Facebook said it provides a number of features for publishers and other users to restrict who can comment on posts. It and CNN did not provide details of the discussion that led to CNN’s decision.
According to industry data, social media is the main channel for publishing content in Australia, and about two-thirds of the country’s 25 million people use Facebook. A report from the University of Canberra stated that by 2021, about one-third of the country’s population will use Facebook to get news.
News Source : Backtrack
