Meta says it will remove all news content on Facebook trends now

Meta says it will remove all news content on Facebook trends now
Meta says it will remove all news content on Facebook trends now

Meta says it will remove all news content on Facebook trends now

Meta has threatened to remove all news content from its sites if Congress passes a law allowing news organizations to negotiate the terms of its content distribution with big tech. 

Communications Director Andy Stone tweeted on Monday that if Congress passes the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, Meta would be 'forced' to remove all news content from Facebook and Instagram.

The bipartisan bill would allow publications with fewer than 15,000 full-time employees to negotiate 'pricing, terms and conditions' whereby major tech platforms may distribute its content.

Advocates of the legislation say it is necessary to counter the market dominance of Facebook and Google, though Meta executives suggest it may actually impede outlets' revenue as their sites provide traffic to news outlets' websites.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill with a 15 - 7 vote in September, but it has yet to be introduced on the Senate floor.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, run by CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) threatened on Monday to remove all news content if Congress passes a law allowing news organizations to negotiate the terms of its content distribution with big tech

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, run by CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) threatened on Monday to remove all news content if Congress passes a law allowing news organizations to negotiate the terms of its content distribution with big tech

In a statement on Twitter, Communications Director Andy Stone said if Congress passes the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, Meta would be 'forced' to remove all news content from Facebook and Instagram

In a statement on Twitter, Communications Director Andy Stone said if Congress passes the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, Meta would be 'forced' to remove all news content from Facebook and Instagram

The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act was first introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, last year.

It would create an antitrust exemption allowing news organizations to collectively bargain for payment from companies distributing their stories online.

Klobuchar touted the bill as a way for local news outlets to 'level the playing field with online platforms' as she announced that the bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in September.

As she explained, 'local news is facing an existential crisis, with ad revenues plummeting, newspapers closing, and many rural communities becoming "news deserts" without access to local reporting. 

'To preserve strong, independent journalism, we have to make sure news organizations are able to negotiate on a level playing field with the online platforms that have come to dominate news distribution and digital advertising.

'Our bipartisan legislation ensures media outlets will be able to band together and negotiate for fair compensation from the Big Tech companies that profit from their news content, allowing journalists to continue their critical work of keeping communities informed,' she said.

But Meta executives have argued that the bill misconstrues how its platform relates to local news organizations — saying Facebook and Instagram actually provide them with further revenue streams.

The bipartisan bill was introduced last year by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana (pictured)

Klobuchar touted the bill as a way for local news outlets to 'level the playing field with online platforms' as she announced that the bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in September

The bipartisan bill was introduced last year by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana. It seeks to create an antitrust exemption allowing news organizations to collectively bargain for payment from companies distributing their stories online

Stone doubled down on that idea in his statement

read more from dailymail.....

PREV Inside cops' harrowing fight to get their jobs back after being sacked for ... trends now
NEXT Stephen Bear's ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison arrives at court for shamed ... trends now