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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Technology
Josh Taylor

Whistleblowers allege Meta deliberately took down Australia's government, emergency services to negotiate news ban

Facebook Australia Meta United States ACCC Campbell Brown Mark Zuckerberg Sheryl Sandberg Whistleblower Aid Guardian Australia
Facebook app on mobile phone
Facebook whistleblowers also allege the company did not follow the standard process to prevent over-blocking before the Australia news ban. Photograph: Jeppe Gustafsson/REX/Shutterstock

When Facebook blocked hundreds of Australian emergency services and government pages during the company’s negotiation with the federal government last year it was not an accident, but rather a deliberate negotiating tactic, company whistleblowers have alleged.

Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has strenuously denied the claims.

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