Over half a million Australians demand probe into Rupert Murdoch's media empire

Over 500,000 Australians petitioned the parliament to conduct an inquiry into Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which threatens media diversity and encourages deliberate polarizing and politically manipulating news.

The petition, which was launched by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd over three weeks ago, singled out Murdoch's News Corp as a potential threat to free speech and public debate, although it also raised other concerns, including Google and Facebook's relationship with the news media.

The petition expressed concern that News Corporation, which overwhelmingly controls Australia's print media, routinely attacks opponents in business and politics by blending editorial opinion with news reporting.

News Corporation, founded by Fox News billionaire Rupert Murdoch, controls around two-thirds of daily newspaper readership.

It owns major national newspaper The Australian and tabloids The Daily Telegraph and The Herald Sun.

Rudd considers the influence of Murdoch's media properties as "toxic" has dubbed the billionaire's news empire a "cancer on democracy" in the US, UK, and Australia.

In an interview with CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter, Rudd likened Murdoch's organization to the mafia.