The ban on Facebook news in Australia has ended – but only after the social media giant forced the country’s government to make some heavy concessions. Last week, Facebook drastically blocked all news on its platform in Australia – and, by accident, some charities and health and emergency services too – in protest against a proposed law that would make tech giants pay publishers of news by using your content. However, according to Reuters, Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg have agreed to a concession agreement. He allegedly includes a possible exemption for Facebook if he can show that he has signed media agreements to pay them for the content, and will give Facebook a one-month notice to comply with the law if it goes ahead. “Facebook has restored friendship with Australia and Australian news will be restored on the Facebook platform,” Frydenberg told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.
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