Bill C-18

Canadians would no longer be able to access news on Facebook or Instagram if the federal government's proposed Online News Act passes in its current form, the parent company behind the two popular social media platforms said.

Advocates for the print and digital media industry are pushing back against Google, which they believe is bullying Canadians by limiting access to online news as part of a fight with Ottawa.

Federal Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez accused Meta on Thursday, December 15, 2022, of trying to intimidate Canadians with threats of pulling news content from its Facebook platform, following the adoption of Bill C-18 in the House of Commons.

The House of Commons passed a Liberal bill on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, designed to require web giants to compensate journalism outfits for reposting their content, and Meta is once again threatening to remove news content from Facebook in Canada.

Google is raising "serious" concerns about a Liberal bill that seeks to require tech giants to pay media outlets in exchange for putting their news content online.

Google has taken the extraordinary step of writing to every MP and senator expressing fears that the online news bill is being rushed through Parliament without proper debate or consideration.

Digital giants will have six months to negotiate private deals to compensate Canadian media outlets for reusing their news content or be forced to reach an agreement, if a new federal bill becomes law.

Here in Canada, things don’t look so certain. There are dire warnings about what the standoff between Meta and the federal government will all mean for Canadian media companies and Canadians. I’m alarmed, too.