Facebook has 'unfriended Australia': PM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has labelled Facebook's decision to ban Australian news from the platform as "arrogant" and "disappointing".

Ironically posting on Facebook, Mr Morrison said the social media giant had sought to "unfriend Australia", and essential information and health services were blocked.

He said he was in "regular contact" with leaders of other nations, who were interested in the tense to-and-fro between the government and Facebook.

READ MORE: Emergency Facebook pages returning after 'inadvertent' bans

Prime Minister Scott Morrison.https://www.facebook.com/scottmorrison4cook/posts/3992877800756593

Despite the ban, Mr Morrison said he intends to continue legislating the government's proposed news media bargaining code.

"We will not be intimidated by BigTech seeking to pressure our Parliament as it votes on our important News Media Bargaining Code," Mr Morrison wrote.

"Just as we weren't intimidated when Amazon threatened to leave the country and when Australia drew other nations together to combat the publishing of terrorist content on social media platforms."

READ MORE: How to follow 9News on digital and social media platforms

Mark Zuckerberg Facebook bans Australian news

The PM said technology companies like Facebook and Google "may be changing the world, but that doesn't mean they run it".

"These actions will only confirm the concerns that an increasing number of countries are expressing about the behaviour of BigTech companies who think they are bigger than governments and that the rules should not apply to them," Mr Morrison said.

Global company Facebook taking on Australia

Facebook turned off viewing or sharing Australian news this morning in response to the code going before parliament.

Indefinitely, Australian users cannot share links or view content produced by Australian news publishers.

READ MORE: Worldwide backlash against Facebook's ban on Australian news

Hyperlink here https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f

Many peripheral pages – such as emergency services and charities – were caught up in the ban.

The majority of their pages have been restored.

A full explainer of the ban and what it means for you can be found here.