[HN Gopher] We don't have to give Facebook a free ride
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       We don't have to give Facebook a free ride
        
       Author : disadvantage
       Score  : 8 points
       Date   : 2024-03-08 19:33 UTC (3 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (theconversation.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (theconversation.com)
        
       | ipaddr wrote:
       | There is nothing sadder than seeing for profit news companies
       | begging other for profit companies for free handouts while their
       | parent companies are listed on stock exchanges.
       | 
       | These companies are so use to handouts from local governments
       | they are trying to use the same playbook.
       | 
       | If facebook is horrible for not giving money to these groups then
       | they are horrible for even asking when charities trying to cure
       | disease are not getting funded at all by facebook.
       | 
       | Calling facebook manipulative and not realizing their even
       | industry is founded on manipulating what facts are presented to
       | emotionally trap their viewer into giving their attention.
       | Facebook copied the playbook.
        
         | smoldesu wrote:
         | The _really_ sad part is that go-nowhere do-nothing legislation
         | like this sucks the air out of the room for _real_ concern over
         | Facebook. American citizens desperately need data privacy laws
         | and assurances that prevents unjust data collection and
         | profiling from companies like Facebook. The news regulation
         | angle is a manipulation of outrage that _worse yet_ gives
         | Facebook the exact  "free ride" they want. It's such an
         | insidious diversion you'd think Mark Zuckerberg planned it
         | himself.
         | 
         | Nonsense appeals like this one really makes you wonder what
         | it's like for Rupert Murdoch et. al these days. Your penthouse
         | is nice, but something feels off. Nobody is talking to you, the
         | TV is on but nobody's watching. A press event happens at the
         | White House, and your daughter reads it to you from her phone
         | before you even see it hit the Fox ticker reel. Something
         | inside such a man must snap, watching the concept of 'news'
         | obsolete itself before his very eyes. For someone who's
         | namesake is built on traditional media, it would probably feel
         | like watching yourself die. He stumbles away to fetch the vinyl
         | for _Komm, susser Tod_ and sits listening with his hands folded
         | until he can find a way to make it all work out.
         | 
         | On the bright side, the cries from traditional media have
         | garnered about as much credibility as Craig Wright running up a
         | bar tab. Hopefully the commercial nature of either side helps
         | to paint their true intentions.
        
       | Spivak wrote:
       | It's wild to see such a blatant hit piece on Facebook. There's
       | barely a mention or analysis of the actual dispute between
       | Facebook and news media. They might actually have an interesting
       | article if they delved into the actual details of the case, the
       | people involved, the actual written law, and where both sides are
       | coming from.
       | 
       | But no, that might paint Facebook as potentially acting
       | reasonably -- can't have that. Let's just laundry list everything
       | we think makes them look bad and hope people don't look too deep
       | into the "Facebook isn't 'paying' for news" line.
        
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       (page generated 2024-03-08 23:02 UTC)