OREANDA-NEWS. Social network Facebook has deprived users in Australia of the opportunity to share news because of a planned law, that will oblige Internet platforms to pay media for their content. The social network announced the restrictions on Wednesday, February 17.

«The proposed law does not recognize the nature of our platform's relationship with publishers. Facebook doesn't steal news content, as it claims. It is the publishers who decide to distribute their articles on Facebook», the company said in a statement. According to the decision of the social network, the media and residents of Australia can no longer publish links to news, as well as view local and international news.

Even a number of pages of Australian government agencies fell under the restrictions: several medical authorities, that published data on restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, one meteorological service in the flood area, and a fire department in a region where there is currently a high threat of forest fires.

The Australian authorities responded by saying, that the American company was «wrong». «Facebook's actions are inappropriate, clumsy and will damage it's reputation», said Josh Frydenberg, the country's chief treasurer. And Health Minister Greg Hunt admitted, that he is in «deep shock» from the decision of the social network, which also affected medical institutions.