WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, issued the following statement:

"Facebook’s course correction was needed, but we cannot allow companies to hold entire countries hostage because they don’t like the way they might be regulated. For too long, tech companies have been squeezing news publishers to get what they want, and now they have tried to do the same to entire governments. Facebook’s actions and reversal in Australia clearly demonstrate its power, as well as the need to enable publishers to negotiate on a level playing field with larger tech companies if we want to preserve a strong and independent press. These platforms must start acting in good faith – and we must pass legislation to guarantee it.”

###