Meta to Block News on Facebook, Instagram in Canada Over New Law
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Meta to Block News on Facebook, Instagram in Canada Over New Law
- Legislation requires digital platforms to pay local publishers
- Trudeau government ramping up efforts to regulate big tech
In an official statement, Meta said, “News links and content posted by news publishers and broadcasters in Canada will no longer be viewable by people in Canada.”
Canadian Facebook and Instagram user will not be able to view news posted on foreign sites, the company said, adding that they will no longer be able to share articles on the two platforms.
Meta informed that it started implementing changes on Tuesday and cover the whole country in the next few weeks as reported.
Online News Act, Bill C – 18 takes centre stage
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has been signalling the move was coming after the government passed its Online News Act, Bill C-18, in June.
The law requires big tech giants like Google and Meta to pay media outlets for news content they share or otherwise repurpose on their platforms.
“In order to provide clarity to the millions of Canadians and businesses who use our platforms, we are announcing today that we have begun the process of ending news availability permanently in Canada,” Rachel Curran, Meta’s head of public policy in Canada, said in a statement.
Owner’s reaction!
The company had previously been blocking news content for some Canadians in preparation for C-18 becoming law. That is now being extended Canada-wide.
Canadians will no longer be able to view or post news content on Facebook or Instagram. News outlets, including international ones, will start having their content blocked on those platforms.
“In the future, we hope the Canadian government will recognize the value we already provide the news industry and consider a policy response that upholds the principles of a free and open internet,” Curran said in her statement.
Government’s reaction!
The government introduced the law arguing that tech giants have gobbled up a large share of advertising dollars that news outlets traditionally relied on.
Last month the federal government suspended its advertising on Facebook and Instagram in response to Meta promising to permanently end news availability.
Despite receiving royal assent in June, C-18 has yet to come into force. The Department of Canadian Heritage is still drafting regulations on how the law will be implemented.
Newly appointed Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said Meta has refused to participate in the regulatory process.
“This is irresponsible,” she said in a statement. “They would rather block their users from accessing good quality and local news instead of paying their fair share to news organizations.”
St-Onge said the government will continue to “stand its ground” and suggested other countries are considering drafting similar legislation.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre put the responsibility squarely at the feet of the Liberal government
Outsider’s reaction
“It’s like Nineteen Eighty-Four,” he said. “Who would ever have imagined that in Canada the federal government would pass laws banning people from effectively seeing the news?” News content will still be available online on publishers’ platforms.
“This deplorable decision serves no one. In fact, the big losers are the users who will be deprived of their news on social networks,” Champoux said in a statement.
Proprietary blog of Karma Global
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