Keywords: Request For Advice, Accc, Federal Government, Eligibility, Social Media Company, News Media Bargaining Code

Written by Claude Haiku 4.5 from the extracted text on 27 Feb 2026. It can miss or misread redacted and scanned pages. Check the source before relying on it.

In March 2024, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones requested urgent advice from the ACCC regarding Meta's eligibility for designation under the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code. Meta had announced plans to remove its Facebook News tab in Australia and cease new commercial deals for news content, prompting the Minister to consider potential regulatory action. Jones sought the ACCC's expert assessment on two key designation criteria: whether a significant bargaining power imbalance exists between Meta (Facebook and Instagram services) and Australian news businesses, and the extent to which covered news content from Australian news businesses appears on these platforms. The Minister indicated he would work with the news media sector to gather information supporting any potential Code determination.