Media Roundup: Meta's news block, NRL's Vegas gamble, Virgin Australia's new CEO, Guardian's missing editor and Gemini AI under fire
See the top industry stories trending today.
Tech
Meta's news block stirs controversy as Cyclone Alfred looms
Meta has restricted Facebook search results for "Cyclone Alfred," raising concerns as the tropical storm barrels toward Australia’s east coast. The move, a byproduct of its ongoing standoff over news content, limits access to vital emergency updates.
As the ABC's Michael Workman and Kevin Nguyen report, Facebook can be a critical tool for crisis communication in Australia, helping authorities disseminate evacuation orders and safety alerts.
But with Meta's news block in place, users searching for cyclone updates may struggle to find official information.
Tech giants rake in billions from Aussies as Greens push for digital tax
Australia's biggest tech players are pulling in a massive $26.7 billion annually, according to fresh Parliamentary Budget Office figures. The Greens argue it's time they pay more, proposing a 3% levy on digital services that could generate over $11 billion in revenue.
As Josh Taylor writes in The Guardian, the analysis, commissioned by the Greens, reveals Google alone made $8.7 billion from advertising and cloud services in 2022-23, while Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon collectively pocketed billions across various sectors.
Despite their soaring earnings, the companies pay minimal local tax.
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Google's AI under fire for potential deepfake abuse
Google's AI model, Gemini, is facing scrutiny after a report from the eSafety Commissioner suggested it may be generating deepfake child exploitation and extremist content. The findings raise fresh concerns about AI’s role in producing harmful material that could evade platform moderation.
As Tess Bennett reports in The Australian Financial Review, according to the report, Google received 86 global reports of suspected AI-generated child abuse content between April 2023 and February 2024. Users also flagged 258 cases of potential deepfake terrorist and extremist material in the same period - highlighting the risks of unregulated AI tools.
With platforms like Google and OpenAI investing heavily in generative AI, regulators warn these systems could be weaponised for illicit content creation.
Publications
Guardian's political editor missing in action as election looms
The Guardian Australia's political editor, Karen Middleton, has been absent for nearly three months, leaving staff and readers questioning her status ahead of a pivotal federal election. The prolonged leave follows reported tensions in the Canberra bureau, but management remains tight-lipped.
As Calum Jaspan writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, despite her absence from the publication, Middleton has kept up her regular gig as Australian correspondent for Radio New Zealand, where she recently covered election speculation, China's military activity, and even an NRL drama in Las Vegas.
Her continued presence on RNZ raises questions about her future at the British-owned publication.
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