Meta's News Standoff: AI Threatens Journalism as Facebook Ends Publisher Deals

Meta, owner of Facebook, is refusing to renew deals with Australia’s media companies, posing a threat to journalism's sustainability. The news media bargaining code forced Google and Facebook to negotiate with media companies, resulting in deals worth an estimated $200m. However, with the expiration of these deals, Meta seems unwilling to negotiate further. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence into search engines poses a catastrophic threat to professional journalism, potentially leading to a loss of traffic and advertising revenue for news media. The government is considering ways to support news media sustainability, but a more nimble media policy is needed to address these challenges.