Topic: Facebook Australia

A former Meta employee, Sarah Williams, appeared on 60 Minutes Australia to level accusations against former COO Sheryl Sandberg. Williams claimed Sandberg’s private behavior contradicted her "Lean In" feminist platform, alleging uncomfortable requests on private jets and unusual personal interactions with staff. Meta and Sandberg have denied the claims, which Williams is detailing in an upcoming book about her decade at the company.

In a viral video from Australia, police arrested a pregnant woman in her home for "incitement" related to a Facebook post about an upcoming lockdown protest. The woman offered to delete the post, but officers proceeded with the arrest and seized electronic devices under a search warrant. The incident sparked international debate over the extent of police powers and the suppression of dissent during the pandemic.

Reports from Melbourne, Australia, indicate a massive crackdown on anti-lockdown protests, including a temporary restricted airspace order and a ban on live streaming. Premier Daniel Andrews is accused of coordinating with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to suppress footage of the demonstrations. The hosts highlight a 6.0 earthquake in the region that received minimal international coverage compared to the civil unrest.

Facebook agreed to restore news pages in Australia after the government amended its Mandatory Bargaining Code. The hosts argue the deal primarily benefits large media conglomerates like Murdoch's News Corp while potentially allowing the government to control which independent publishers receive funding.

Facebook has blocked all news content for Australian users in response to proposed legislation requiring tech giants to pay publishers. In contrast, Google has struck multi-million dollar deals with major outlets like News Corp and Seven West Media. The ban inadvertently took down government health and emergency service pages, leading to a public outcry and ongoing negotiations between Mark Zuckerberg and the Australian Treasurer.

Police in Victoria, Australia, arrested a pregnant woman in her home for "incitement" after she organized an anti-lockdown protest on Facebook. The arrest, captured on video, has sparked international debate over civil liberties. Meanwhile, Victoria reported a record daily death toll, though officials admitted the numbers included "aged care deaths" dating back to July that were previously unreported.

Adam Curry solicited names for the upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour from the No Agenda Facebook group. Suggestions included the "Vegemitey Tour," "The Piece of Piss Tour," and "Crocodile Curry," while Curry noted the lack of self-organization among the social media producers.