Canadians will no longer have access to news content on Facebook and Instagram, Meta says
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/online-news-act-meta-facebook-1.6885634
The social media giant Meta has confirmed that it will end access to news on its social media sites for all Canadian users before Bill C-18, the Online News Act, comes into force.
The tech company made the announcement on Thursday, the same day the bill received royal assent. The law will force tech giants like Meta and Google to pay news outlets for posting their journalism on their platforms.
Meta said it will begin to block news for Canadian users over the next few months and that the change will not be immediate.
"We have repeatedly shared that in order to comply with Bill C-18 … content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will no longer be available to people accessing our platforms in Canada," Meta said in a media statement.
Now that the bill has received royal assent, the Department of Canadian Heritage will draft regulations specifying the application of the act and provide guidance on implementing it. It should take six months for Bill C-18 to come into force.
"A free and independent press is fundamental to our democracy," Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said in a statement. "It levels the playing field by putting the power of big tech in check and ensuring that even our smallest news business can benefit through this regime and receive fair compensation for their work."
In response to Meta's announcement that it would be banning news content for Canadian users, Rodriguez said in a different media statement that Meta currently has no obligations under the act and that the federal government will engage in a "regulatory and implementation process" following royal assent of Bill C-18.
"If the government can't stand up for Canadians against tech giants, who will?" Rodriguez said.
A spokesperson for the minister said his office had meetings with Facebook and Google this week.
"We look forward to further discussions with the platforms," they said.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez rises during question period
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez is shown during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on April 28. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Meta first threatened to end access to news content for Canadian users of Facebook and Instagram earlier this month, in response to the looming passage of Bill C-18.
The company said it was conducting tests on ending news access for a small percentage of Canadians. Between one and five per cent of the 24 million Canadians who use Facebook or Instagram were said to be affected.
Meta said this test is still ongoing.
"The changes affecting news content will not otherwise impact Meta's products and services in Canada," the company said.
On June 7, shortly after Meta announced it would conduct this product test, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said bullying tactics would not work with his government.
"The fact that these internet giants would rather cut off Canadians' access to local news than pay their fair share is a real problem, and now they're resorting to bullying tactics to try and get their way. It's not going to work," Trudeau said.
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