In compliance with a new law that mandates internet giants to compensate news publishers, Meta Platforms has taken action to terminate news access on Facebook and Instagram for all Canadian users.
(Photo : STR/AFP via Getty Images)
A woman uses her mobile phone to check Facebook in Yangon on February 4,2021 as Myanmar's generals ordered internet providers to restrict access to Facebook, days after they seized power.
Cutting Access to Online News
Amidst a legal requirement that internet giants compensate news publishers, Reuters reported that Meta Platforms has initiated actions to terminate news access on Facebook and Instagram for all Canadian users. The move has been met with criticism from the Canadian government, which denounces it as "irresponsible."
With the Online News Act in effect, the Canadian parliament's mandate demands that platforms like Meta and Alphabet, engage in commercial negotiations with Canadian news publishers for their content. The unfolding process is being closely observed by the international community as it shapes the landscape of news accessibility and digital content regulation in Canada.
Rachel Curran, Meta's head of public policy in Canada, defended their action to end news access on Facebook and Instagram in Canada, stating that news outlets voluntarily share content on the platforms to expand their audience and financial gains.
However, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, responsible for the government's interactions with Meta, expressed strong disapproval, labeling the move as "irresponsible" in a statement issued on Tuesday. The Guardian reported that the clash between Meta and the Canadian government highlights the ongoing debate surrounding news distribution on social media platforms.
Also Read: Instagram Blocks Canadian News Outlets as Tech Giants Clash with Government Over Online News Act
St-Onge has voiced her strong criticism against Meta Platforms and Google, accusing them of blocking access to valuable and local news content instead of fairly compensating news organizations. She reaffirms the government's commitment to stand firm in its stance against tech giants and to protect the interests of Canadians in making tech firms pay for news.
Canada's Online News Act
Forbes reported that the ongoing campaign against the law has led both Meta and Google to take a stand in June by announcing their decision to block news access on their platforms in Canada. The outcome will shape the dynamics of news distribution and the relationship between tech giants and news publishers in the country.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strongly criticized Meta's claim that news articles constitute less than 3% of its users' feeds and argued that news lacks economic value. In May, Trudeau highlighted the flawed nature of this argument, emphasizing that such a viewpoint could be detrimental to both democracy and the economy.
As the debate continues over the significance of news content on social media platforms, the clash between Meta and the Canadian government raises broader questions about the role of tech giants in shaping the flow of information and its impact on society and democratic principles.
Related Article: [UPDATE] Meta Confirms Removal of News Content From Facebook and Instagram in Canada
