SYDNEY: CNN said it is preventing Australians from accessing its Facebook Inc pages after a court ruled that publishers can be liable for defamation in public comment sections and the social media firm refused to help it disable comments in the country.
The move makes CNN, which is owned by AT&T Inc, the first major news organisation to pull its Facebook presence in Australia since the country's highest court ruled this month that publishers were legally responsible for comments posted below articles - even if the articles themselves were not defamatory.
The ruling has come under much fire with defamation lawyers accusing Australia of not keeping up with technological change and noting the contrast with the United States and Britain where laws largely protect publishers from any fallout from comments posted online.
Australia is currently reviewing its defamation laws but in the meantime, other global news organisations, especially those that feel they can easily live without an Australian Facebook audience, are likely to follow CNN's lead, the lawyers said.
"This is the first domino to fall," said Michael Bradley, managing partner of Marque Lawyers.
For Australian media companies, the ruling also adds a layer of complication to their relationship with Facebook, just as many of them begin to benefit from a new law that forces the social media company to pay for links to their content.
CNN's main Facebook page showed an error message when accessed from Australia on Wednesday. The U.S. news organisation said Facebook declined a request to help it and other publishers disable public comments in the country following the ruling, which was made during an ongoing defamation lawsuit.
"We are disappointed that Facebook, once again, has failed to ensure its platform is a place for credible journalism and productive dialogue around current events among its users," a CNN spokeswoman said in a statement.
A Facebook spokesperson said recent court decisions had shown the need for reform in Australian defamation law and the company looked forward to "greater clarity and certainty in this area".
"While it's not our place to provide legal guidance to CNN, we have provided them with the latest information on tools we make available to help publishers manage comments," the spokesperson said.
'OUTLIER'
As in most of the world, social media is a central channel for distributing content in Australia and about two-thirds of its population of 25 million are on Facebook. About a third of Australians said they used Facebook to source news, a University of Canberra survey taken at the start of 2021 showed.
But there has also been an explosion in defamation lawsuits, and state and federal chief lawyers are conducting a wide-ranging review into whether existing rules are appropriate for the internet age, and whether the rules fairly take into account whether or not a person has been harmed.
In a submission to that review in May, an industry group representing Facebook and other internet platforms said liability for defamation should remain with content "originators" since they could more easily monitor and delete offending content.
Mark Speakman, the attorney general for the state of New South Wales who is working on the review, said resolving the question of liability in online forums was a priority.
"Getting the balance right on any reform is crucial to balancing freedom of expression with the right of a person to protect their reputation," he said in an email.
Matt Collins, a prominent defamation lawyer, said CNN's decision showed the importance of aligning Australian law with the United States and Britain.
"Australia is among Western democracies an outlier, in relation to the circumstances in which media organisations and any user of social media can be liable for content they didn't they themselves write or approve of," he said.
Reuters
Wed Sep 29 2021
![CNN denies Australians access to its Facebook pages, cites defamation risk CNN denies Australians access to its Facebook pages, cites defamation risk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-09/71632904229_FACEBOOK.jpg)
CNN's main Facebook page shows an error message when accessed from Australia, as seen in this screen capture taken September 29, 2021. - REUTERS
10 Berita Pilihan - (15 Ogos 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Pasukan PBB lawat Bangladesh, siasat pembunuhan protes pelajar
Pasukan penyiasat Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) akan melawat Bangladesh minggu depan untuk menyiasat ratusan kematian semasa protes yang diketuai pelajar baru-baru ini, menurut pegawai badan dunia itu pada Khamis.
Gempa bumi bermagnitud 5.7 gegar timur laut Taiwan
Gempa bumi berukuran 5.7 skala richter melanda daerah Timur Laut Taiwan pada Khamis.
Angka kematian di Gaza cecah 40,000 individu
Pasukan tentera Israel melakukan tiga pembunuhan beramai-ramai terhadap keluarga-keluarga di Semenanjung Gaza dalam tempoh 24 jam lepas, mengakibatkan sekurang-kurangnya 40 rakyat Palestin terbunuh dan 107 lagi cedera, menurut sumber perubatan.
Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega
Dalam tempoh berjaga-jaga, Agensi Meteorologi Jepun tidak melihat sebarang pergerakan gempa bumi yang luar biasa atau kerak bumi.
Rakyat UK terancam dengan imigran rampas peluang pekerjaan
Bimbang golongan imigran akan merampas peluang peluang pekerjaan menjadikan rakyat United KIngdom terutamanya mereka yang mempunyai masalah ekonomi melihat imigran sebagai satu ancaman.
Parti Pheu Thai pilih anak perempuan Thaksin calon PM
Paetongtarn, 37, adalah anak perempuan kepada jutawan yang juga bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pemilihan anak Thaksin sebagai PM Thailand dianggap tidak efektif
Pemilihan anak perempuan bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, untuk menggantikan Srettha Thavisin sebagai Perdana Menteri negara itu dianggap sebagai tidak efektif.
![Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723343252_Palestiniansmourn.jpg)
Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera
Perkhidmatan kecemasan masih tidak dapat membantu ramai mangsa dan membawa keluar mayat yang terperangkap di bawah runtuhan.
DNA mangsa kebakaran di Pagoh diperoleh, jenazah dijangka dikebumikan esok
Polis mengesahkan telah menerima laporan ujian asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) dua mayat mangsa yang rentung dalam kebakaran rumah di Kampung Paya Redan, Pagoh, Johor Jumaat lepas.
![Peniaga rugi hampir RM150,000 beli Mercedes Benz dalam talian Peniaga rugi hampir RM150,000 beli Mercedes Benz dalam talian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720420389_FBScam.jpg)
Peniaga rugi hampir RM150,000 beli Mercedes Benz dalam talian
Mangsa telah melihat iklan penjualan kereta jenis Mercedes Benz GLA 200 AMG Sport 4MATIC 1.3A melalui Facebook dan menekan pautan yang tertera.
![Orang ramai diminta rujuk buku panduan JaPen mengenai tatacara betul kibar Jalur Gemilang Orang ramai diminta rujuk buku panduan JaPen mengenai tatacara betul kibar Jalur Gemilang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/61689927572_TBJalurGemilang.jpg)
Orang ramai diminta rujuk buku panduan JaPen mengenai tatacara betul kibar Jalur Gemilang
JaPen meminta orang ramai merujuk buku panduan 'Bendera Kita Jalur Gemilang' bagi mengetahui tatacara mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang.
![PM Anwar terima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi SPA PM Anwar terima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi SPA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723473647_TBANWAR.jpg)
PM Anwar terima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi SPA
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini menerima kunjungan hormat Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA) Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus.
![Anwar terima kunjungan KSN baharu Anwar terima kunjungan KSN baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723466288_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Anwar terima kunjungan KSN baharu
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menerima kunjungan Ketua Setiausaha Negara (KSN) yang baharu Datuk Seri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar di bangunan Perdana Putra, Putrajaya hari ini.
![Kadar kemalangan tinggi pengguna motosikal: PM zahir kebimbangan Kadar kemalangan tinggi pengguna motosikal: PM zahir kebimbangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81722957381_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Kadar kemalangan tinggi pengguna motosikal: PM zahir kebimbangan
Anwar menzahirkan kebimbangan terhadap kadar kemalangan tinggi dalam kalangan pengguna motosikal yang berkait dengan kelemahan penguatkuasaan undang-undang.
![Malaysia harap rundingan damai di Sudan berjaya dicapai - PM Anwar Malaysia harap rundingan damai di Sudan berjaya dicapai - PM Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41722957005_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Malaysia harap rundingan damai di Sudan berjaya dicapai - PM Anwar
Malaysia menyuarakan harapan agar rundingan yang sedang diusahakan untuk mewujudkan gencatan senjata dan kestabilan berkekalan di Sudan, berjaya dicapai.
![Individu ceroboh landasan kereta api di Tanah Merah, KTMB tidak kompromi Individu ceroboh landasan kereta api di Tanah Merah, KTMB tidak kompromi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/51674736101_TBLOGOKTMB.jpg)
Individu ceroboh landasan kereta api di Tanah Merah, KTMB tidak kompromi
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) tidak akan berkompromi terhadap individu yang menceroboh landasan kereta api dan tindakan itu boleh dikenakan denda RM500.
![Laporan permohonan maaf Meta kepada PM Anwar dapat perhatian dunia Arab Laporan permohonan maaf Meta kepada PM Anwar dapat perhatian dunia Arab](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722397181_IsmailHaniyeh.jpg)
Laporan permohonan maaf Meta kepada PM Anwar dapat perhatian dunia Arab
Laporan Meta Platforms memohon maaf kepada Anwar Ibrahim mendapat liputan meluas media di negara Arab dan berbahasa Arab.
![PM terima permohonan maaf Meta - Fahmi PM terima permohonan maaf Meta - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51722417455_TBPOSTREMOVE.jpg)
PM terima permohonan maaf Meta - Fahmi
Anwar Ibrahim sudah menerima permohonan maaf daripada Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) berhubung tindakan menurunkan kandungan berkaitan isu Palestin di akaun Facebook dan Instagram milik beliau.
![Meta tidak bersedia jawab isu teknikal - Fahmi Meta tidak bersedia jawab isu teknikal - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71722942360_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Meta tidak bersedia jawab isu teknikal - Fahmi
Penjelasan mereka berhubung isu semasa siaran langsung Himpunan Pembebasan Palestin pada Ahad, juga tidak dapat diterima.