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.
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.
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.
Television
Nine under pressure to offload Domain to US giant CoStar
Nine Entertainment’s biggest institutional investor, Pendal, is urging the media company to explore a sale of its property platform, Domain, to US real estate powerhouse CoStar. The push comes as Nine weighs its strategic options following an unexpected takeover bid last month
As Sam Buckingham-Jones writes in The Australian Financial Review, Pendal, which holds a 7.6% stake in Nine – second only to billionaire Bruce Gordon – met with acting CEO Matt Stanton after the company’s half-year results.
The fund manager made its stance clear: CoStar’s offer deserves serious consideration.
Calls grow for crackdown on Iran-backed media in Australia
Liberal senator Dave Sharma is pushing Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong to enforce sanctions on Iran-backed broadcaster Press TV, which continues to operate in Australia despite being listed under the sanctions regime.
As Noah Yim writes in The Australian, the network recently made headlines after interviewing Labor defector Fatima Payman, who controversially claimed women in Iran were treated better than in the West. Payman has since apologised, distancing herself from what she called a pro-Iran “propaganda” event.
Sharma has formally urged Wong to conduct a full investigation into Press TV’s presence, questioning why a government-sanctioned outlet is still active.
Brands
Virgin Australia names new CEO as airline enters next phase
Virgin Australia has appointed Dave Emerson as its new chief executive, ending a year-long leadership transition. Emerson, the airline’s chief commercial officer since 2021, will officially step into the role on 14 March, succeeding Jayne Hrdlicka.
As Chantelle Francis writes for news.com.au, while Hrdlicka is stepping down, she will remain with the company for a few months to support the transition. Emerson, who played a key role in Virgin’s post-administration revival, says the airline is now well-positioned for growth.
“Our strategy is paying off,” Emerson said, highlighting plans to expand long-haul international routes and enhance domestic services.
TEG CEO confirms he’s not leaving
Despite industry speculation about leadership changes, TEF CEO Geoff Jones isn’t stepping aside.
As James Manning writes in The Australian, Jones has been at the helm since 2011 and, as a shareholder, he remains committed to TEG while also chairing SXSW Sydney.
Speculation about his future ramped up amid a shake-up at SXSW Sydney. Former managing director Colin Daniels has exited, but stays on the board while launching Handsome Tours, TEG’s boutique live division.
ABC’s Nick Leys exits to join Melbourne’s Town Hall
ABC’s head of communications, Nick Leys, is leaving the public broadcaster to take on a new role as chief of staff for Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece. The former News Corp journalist has spent the past decade managing Aunty’s media strategy, with a brief detour at the Australian Energy Council.
As both Tom Cowie and Kishor Napier-Raman report for The Age, Reece, a former ALP state secretary, secured the mayoralty in last year’s Victorian council elections with a commanding 61.5% of the vote after preferences.
He’s now bringing Leys into his inner circle, calling him “one of the best behind-the-scenes operators in Australia.”
NRL’s Vegas gamble pays off with US ratings boost
The NRL’s Las Vegas experiment delivered a significant ratings win, with 371,000 American free-to-air viewers tuning in for the Raiders-Warriors clash on Fox – marking a massive jump from last year’s numbers, when just 61,000 watched the season opener. The boost comes as the league looks to expand its footprint in the lucrative US sports market.
As Frances Howe and Michael Chammas report in The Sydney Morning Herald, unlike previous years, this was the first time an NRL premiership match aired on a free-to-air network in the US, giving the game unprecedented exposure. The other three Vegas matches remained behind a paywall on Fox Sports 1, where they struggled to gain traction.
Despite the ratings jump, the NRL still has work to do. With Fox reaching 125 million homes, less than 0.5% of its potential US audience actually tuned in.
NRL eyes streaming giants as next broadcast deal looms
As the NRL prepares to renegotiate its media rights, chief executive Andrew Abdo is keeping a close watch on streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+, which are increasingly investing in live sports. While competition is welcome, Abdo warns against fragmenting coverage across too many platforms, risking fan frustration.
As Sam Buckingham-Jones reports in The Australian Financial Review, currently split between Nine and Foxtel, the NRL’s rights deal expires in 2027, and global players are circling.
Netflix recently tested live sports with a Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight, while sports streamer DAZN has snapped up Foxtel, positioning itself as a major Australian player.
Pictured: Image by ABC News