Canada's News Access Under Fire: Facebook And Instagram Set To Restrict Information Flow

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Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is set to impose restrictions on news access for Canadian users following the passage of a controversial online news bill by the country's parliament. This legislation compels major platforms, including Meta and Google, to compensate news publishers for content posted on their sites. In preparation for the bill, both Meta and Google had already been conducting tests to limit news availability to Canadian users.

This move by Meta echoes a similar incident in Australia last year when Facebook blocked its users from sharing or viewing news content in response to comparable legislation. Now, with Canada's Online News Act receiving approval from the Senate, platforms like Meta and Google will be required to engage in negotiations and financially compensate news organizations for their content.

Unsurprisingly, Meta has criticized the law, describing it as "fundamentally flawed legislation that ignores the realities of how our platforms work." The company announced that news access on Facebook and Instagram for all Canadian users will be discontinued even before the bill becomes effective, claiming that being forced to pay for links or content not posted by them is neither sustainable nor practical.


Meta, however, assured Canadian users that these changes will not impact their access to other services provided by the platform. Meanwhile, Google expressed its view that the current form of the bill is unworkable and expressed a willingness to collaborate with the government to find a viable solution.

The Canadian government defends the online news bill, citing the need to promote fairness in the country's digital news market and ensure that struggling news organizations receive fair compensation for their content and links shared on these platforms. An analysis conducted by an independent parliamentary budget watchdog estimates that digital platforms could contribute around C$329 million ($250 million; £196 million) annually to news businesses.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez expressed his dissatisfaction with the tests carried out by tech platforms, deeming them "unacceptable" and a "threat." While Facebook restored news content in Australia after negotiations with the government, Rodriguez's office confirmed that discussions with Google and Facebook would continue, but the implementation of the bill would proceed as planned. Rodriguez emphasized the government's commitment to protecting Canadians from tech giants, stating, "If the government can't stand up for Canadians against tech giants, who will?"

Media industry groups welcomed the passage of the bill, viewing it as a significant step toward achieving fairness in the market. Paul Deegan, President and CEO of News Media Canada, a media industry group, emphasized the importance of real journalism, created by real journalists, to democracy. He acknowledged that such journalism comes with costs, and the bill seeks to address this issue.

The Online News Act is expected to take effect in Canada within the next six months.

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