Aussies could be charged to use Facebook and Instagram if changes to privacy laws go ahead, warns Meta
- Internet users to be charged to use Meta platforms
- Attorney-General’s office proposed changes to Privacy Act
- Includes allowing users to opt out of targeted ads
Australians could be charged to use Facebook and Instagram if the Australian government adopts a series of changes to privacy reforms, including legislation allowing users to opt out of targeted advertising.
The office of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is considering allowing internet users to opt out of targeted ads while still requiring companies to offer their services.
Currently, Facebook and Instagram users are shown ads that have been tailored to their identities rather than what they enter into search engines.
Social media giant Meta earns most of its revenue from small businesses that pay to advertise on the platforms.
The office of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is considering allowing internet users to opt out of targeted ads while still requiring companies to offer their services
Melinda Claybaugh, director of privacy policy for Meta, flew to Australia after the Attorney-General’s February review of the Privacy Act was released.
Ms Claybaugh argues the crackdown would hurt small businesses, who would struggle to reach their niche audiences with fine-tuned, targeted ads.
‘I think it’s fair folks are considering what controls might be important to give people, but I think this proposal goes much further by allowing people to opt out fully from targeted advertising – [but it] would require companies to still provide their services,’ the Meta executive told Mumbrella.
She said dozens of small businesses who rely on ads to provide free services would be forced to find another revenue stream, if the laws were passed.
One of these streams could be charging users to use Facebook and Instagram, although Ms Claybaugh admitted it was still ‘early days’.
Meta executive Melinda Claybaugh said she supported the majority of the 116 proposed changes to the Privacy Act, and that the social media giant disagreed with just 10
The executive said she supported the majority of the 116 proposed changes to the Privacy Act, and that Meta disagreed with just 10.
Ms Claybough agreed that ads targeted to children under 18 or based on people’s sensitive data could be problematic, but that Meta already has a handle on this.
If the laws are passed in full, Australia would have some of the strictest privacy laws in the country, and would be the first to monitor targeted ads.
The Attorney-General’s office has increased penalties for breaches of privacy law and reappointed a Privacy Commissioner.
The government will seek feedback on the 116 proposed changes to the 1988 Privacy Act before taking any further action.
