Meta Implements News Blocking on Facebook and Instagram in Response to Canadian Online News Legislation

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced that it will block news content on its platforms for Canadian users following the passage of Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act. This move comes as the legislation aims to compel tech giants like Google and Facebook to share revenues with news publishers for the articles featured on their platforms. By removing news content entirely, Meta and other companies would potentially be exempt from the provisions of the law.

In an official blog post, Facebook stated, “Today, we are confirming that news availability will be ended on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada prior to the Online News Act (Bill C-18) taking effect. We have repeatedly shared that in order to comply with Bill C-18, passed today in Parliament, content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will no longer be available to people accessing our platforms in Canada.”

The fate of news content on Google searches in Canada remains uncertain, as Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez engages in last-minute discussions with Google. While the bill does not explicitly mention Google and Meta, it applies to companies that provide news content and possess a significant power imbalance in their relationships with news organizations. If Google and Meta choose to block news content, they would no longer fall under the purview of the legislation, relieving them of the obligation to share revenues.

This potential outcome has raised concerns among industry players, as evidenced by Bell Media’s recent layoffs affecting 1,300 employees, including reductions in its news operations. Robert Malcolmson, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer of Bell Media, explained that if Google and Facebook remove news from their platforms, the bill could lose its significance, leaving companies like Bell Media without a resolution.

Google has also issued warnings that it may terminate or modify its existing agreements with Canadian news outlets in response to the bill. Through the Google News Showcase program, the company currently collaborates with 150 news publishers, including Postmedia, the publisher of the National Post, which supports the legislation. Although the financial details of these partnerships have not been disclosed, Google pays news outlets to license their content for the program. Additionally, Google cautioned that removing news content could have negative reputational consequences for their platforms.

Under Bill C-18, Google and Facebook would be compelled to negotiate commercial agreements that involve revenue sharing with news publishers. However, Google has expressed concerns over the lack of a clear exemption process outlined in the legislation. The Canadian version of the bill was inspired by Australia’s legislation, which led to Google and Facebook striking deals with publishers to avoid being subjected to the News Media Bargaining Code.

The passage of Bill C-18 has been hailed by proponents of the legislation. News Media Canada, a group representing publishers, believes the law provides an opportunity for news organizations, both large and small, to negotiate fair agreements regarding their content with dominant search and social media companies. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters also expressed support, stating that the legislation will enable fair negotiations between online platforms and domestic news businesses.

Advocacy group Friends commended the Canadian Parliament for passing the bill despite the threats made by Google and Facebook to block news content in Canada. They hope that these foreign tech giants will now respect the democratic process and cease their intimidation tactics.

Source: NationalPost.com