After Meta’s announcement to end news availability on Facebook and Instagram in opposition to Canada’s Online News Act, the Canadian government has responded by declaring a suspension of advertising on the company’s platform.
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez, expressed the decision in a tweet, stating that they cannot continue to allocate advertising funds to Meta while the company refuses to provide fair compensation to Canadian news organizations.
The Canadian government has taken a strong stance on the Online News Act, which requires platforms like Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as Google, to negotiate and compensate news publishers for their content shared on social media.
In response to Meta’s opposition to the law, Canadian officials have expressed their support and determination, stating that they will not be intimidated. They have also been in contact with other countries planning to implement similar legislation.
Meta has criticized the law, arguing that it disregards the reality of how their platforms operate and that publishers choose to share content on their platforms willingly. Additionally, major Canadian firms, Quebecor and Cogeco Communications, have suspended advertising on Meta’s platforms.
Google has also announced limitations on the availability of news in Canada due to the new law, expressing concerns and proposing amendments. However, Canadian officials remain optimistic about reaching an agreement with Google’s parent company, Alphabet, as they believe that their planned regulations can address the company’s concerns. On the other hand, Meta has not engaged with the Canadian government in the same manner.
