Tech giant Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has taken a significant step in response to the Canadian government’s Online News Act, which calls for social media platforms to pay for displaying links to news content. Meta’s communications director, Andy Stone, announced on Tuesday that they have begun the process of ending news availability in Canada, stating that the law is based on a fundamentally flawed premise.
The Online News Act, passed last month but not yet enforced, has also faced opposition from Google, which warned it might have to remove links to Canadian news from its search and news products. The major point of contention for tech giants like Meta and Google is the requirement to pay for displaying links to news content on their platforms, referred to as a “link tax.” Google expressed concerns about the uncertainty and financial liability associated with such a provision. However, Meta’s action extends beyond Canadian media.
According to a notification sent to users in Canada, the news blackout will impact global news outlets, including those from India, making news content unavailable on Facebook and Instagram within the country. This means people in Canada will no longer have access to news content posted by news outlets and won’t see links or content from any news outlet pages or accounts. The announcement by Meta has sparked anger from the Canadian government, with Pascale St-Onge, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, expressing frustration over Facebook’s lack of participation in the regulatory process.
She argued that Meta has no current obligations under the Online News Act and accused the company of trying to send a message to other countries, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The move by Meta to remove news content in Canada indicates a tense standoff between tech giants and governments over regulations pertaining to news content and the monetization of links on social media platforms. As the situation unfolds, the impact could reverberate beyond Canada’s borders, potentially influencing other countries’ approach to handling news content and social media platforms.