Facebook And Instagram Will Ban Access To News In Canada
Meta, the parent company of the companies Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, says it will remove access to news on Facebook and Instagram after Canadian lawmakers pass a law that obliges technology giants, including Google, to pay news publishers to host news content.
The Online News Law was approved by the upper house of the Senate and is expected to enter into force soon. This law aims to support media organisations, which have been greatly affected since the internet era.
Meta says it will remove access to all news on Facebook and Instagram before the entry into force of the law in the country. “Today, we are confirming that the availability of news will be closed on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada before the Online News Act comes into force,” the company said in a statement.
"We repeatedly share that in order to comply with Bill C-18 ... media content, including news publishers and broadcasters, will no longer be available to people accessing our platforms in Canada."
Google complained to the Canadian government about the severity of the law, however, the federal government of Canada led by Justin Trudeau refused the technology giant's complaint, accusing Meta and Google of using “bullying tactics” against the new legislation.
While Google tries to find a solution with the Canadian government, because Google News services in the country are at stake, Meta says it will remove all news content.
In Australia, Meta and Google faced similar legislation. Under threat of withdrawal from the Australian market, the two North American giants managed to change the legislation in the country. Both companies were obliged to reach agreements with the media and to pay fees for the use of their information content. New Zealand wants to follow in the footsteps of its neighbouring country.
California wants to be the first U.S. state to follow legislation similar to Canada, but Meta has already warned that it will be “forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram, instead of paying in a mud fund that mainly benefits large out-of-state media companies under the guise of helping California publishers”
