Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta said in a statement earlier this week that Facebook will simply remove all news content off of the social media platform is Congress decides to pass the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA).
The WinePress has reported on the JCPA before – a bill that will radically transform how media and news is shared and promoted on social media websites.
In short, the bill is touted as granting more equity and freedom for news to be shared and get adequate compensation that is usually squandered by much larger outlets. The bill is touted as uplifting and supporting local journalism, but in reality it does the opposite and actually will lock-out a lot of independent creators and journalists, but guaranteeing much larger outlets get promoted exclusively, granting them total immunity from antitrust laws and creating a ‘news cartel’ in the process to buoy those ‘they’ want seen.
As explained in our WinePress article: “the smaller and independent “print, broadcast, or digital news organization” that does not have –
A dedicated professional editorial staff that creates and distributes original news and related content concerning local, national, or international matters of public interest on at least a weekly basis;
and is marketed through subscriptions, advertising, or sponsorship; and provides original news and related content with the editorial content consisting of not less than 25 percent current news and related content;
or broadcasts original news and related content pursuant to a license granted by the Federal Communications Commission under title III of the Communications Act of 1934.
-Could basically get locked out by this newly formed cartel group that decides who best fits this description, and who they choose to let in.”
In other words, this bill will solidify and protect the corporate monopolies and allow them to strike deals with these social media outlets to only promote their content, while small journalists and content creators will get buried and/or completely deplatformed and censored.
You can read more details about this bill below:
Practically every mainstream and alternative outlet has supported this bill and/or kept quiet about what the bill truly entails, save outlets like Breitbart who have routinely criticized it.
The bill is set to be voted upon in the near future.
This prompted Meta to respond by saying they will remove all of their news sharing options on Facebook.
Meta said in a statement on social media:
If Congress passes an ill-considered journalism bill as part of national security legislation, we will be forced to consider removing news from our platforms altogether, rather than submit to government-mandated negotiations that unfairly disregard any value we provide to news outlets through increased traffic and subscriptions.
The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act fails to recognize the key fact: publishers and broadcasters put their content on our platform themselves because it benefits their bottom line — not the other way around.
No company should be forced to pay for content that users don’t want to see and that’s not a meaningful source of revenue.
Put simply, the government creating a cartel-like entity which requires one private company to subsidize other private entities is a terrible precedent for all American businesses.
Facebook has already shown their readiness to ban news stories such as the case in Australia over a year ago, which ironically is what spurred Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar to draft the JCPA in the first place.
Daily Mail added, ‘The [JCPA] follows similar legislation in Australia passed last year, which has resulted in social media sites and Google paying news organizations, both large and small, more than $140million.’
‘Now, the New Zealand government is set to follow suit, announcing over the weekend that it will introduce a law requiring Google and Meta to pay media companies for local news content,’ Daily Mail wrote.
New Zealand news media, particularly small, regional and community newspapers, are struggling to remain financially viable as more advertising moves online.
It is critical that those benefitting from their news content actually pay for it.
Minister of Broadcasting Willie Jackson said in a statement.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
Proverbs 28:12
In an unusual twist of reality, Facebook/Meta is actually telling the truth here, and is saying what I have been saying about the JCPA.
The only problem here is what Meta said is by design. I always say it but it bears worth repeating: Problem. Reaction. Solution. With Meta making such a bold statement, and with the mainstream media propping up this bill, it causes the masses to then jump on the bandwagon and support this draconian and fascist bill even more.
I pray it does not happen, but I would be a bit surprised if this does not pass with flying colors in the Senate and Congress.
Whatever happens, happens: and I shall continue to fight and do all that I can to report the truth. If you like what you read and want to stay informed, be sure to sign-up for the newsletter, and continue to share The WinePress everywhere you can.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Lord willing, he allows the Winepress and Bryan’s online channel to remain online until he decides he had enough with the stubborn lost people who just won’t hear.
Sharing direct links to your WP and Born Again Barbarian often gets scrapped right away on YT, but I found that sharing phrases like visit “the Winepress News website” and “Born Again Barbarian YT channel” allows them to get posted.
Imagine our Blackstone banker/corporatist run government setting up a cartel.