Facebook and Instagram, plan to restrict news on its platforms for Canadian users following the passing of a controversial online news bill that requires compensation to news publishers, while Google also criticizes the law and seeks collaboration with the government.
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| Meta limit news content on Facebook and Instagram in Canada |
Meta has announced its decision to limit news content on its platforms for Canadian consumers after Canada's parliament passed an online news bill that has raised significant debate. The bill mandates that major platforms compensate news publishers for the content shared on their sites.
Both Meta and Google have already been conducting tests to restrict news access for some Canadian users. In a similar vein, Australian users were blocked from sharing or viewing news on Facebook in 2021 as a response to a comparable law.
The Canadian Online News Act, which received approval from the Senate on Thursday, establishes regulations requiring platforms such as Meta and Google to negotiate commercial agreements and provide payment to news organizations for their content.
Meta has criticized the law, referring to it as "fundamentally flawed legislation that ignores the realities of how our platforms work." The company declared that news availability on Facebook and Instagram will cease for all users in Canada prior to the bill's enforcement. A Meta spokesperson stated, "A legislative framework that compels us to pay for links or content that we do not post, and which are not the reason the vast majority of people use our platforms, is neither sustainable nor workable."
Google also expressed its concerns, labeling the bill as "unworkable" in its current state and expressing its intention to collaborate with the government to find a viable solution.
The federal government argues that the online news bill is necessary to promote fairness in the Canadian digital news market and enable struggling news organizations to receive fair compensation for news and links shared on these platforms. An analysis conducted by an independent parliamentary budget watchdog estimated that news businesses could potentially receive around C$329 million ($250 million; £196 million) annually from digital platforms.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has denounced the tests conducted by tech platforms as "unacceptable" and a "threat." While Rodriguez's office has held discussions with Google and Facebook, they have stated that the government will proceed with implementing the bill.
Media industry groups have applauded the passage of the bill, viewing it as a step toward achieving market fairness. Paul Deegan, President and CEO of News Media Canada, a media industry group, emphasized the importance of real journalism and fair compensation, stating, "Real journalism, created by real journalists, continues to be demanded by Canadians and is vital to our democracy, but it costs real money."
The Online News Act is anticipated to come into effect in Canada within six months.