Trudeau slams Meta over plans to block Canadian news in response to proposed legislation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticized Meta after the company’s executives announced plans to block news for Canadian Facebook and Instagram users in response to proposed legislation. The new law, known as the Online News Act, would require digital giants to pay for local journalism content. Currently, the bill is being considered by the Senate.

Google also revealed in February that it had tested limiting Canadians’ access to news in anticipation of the bill’s passage. Both Google and Meta have opposed the proposed legislation, arguing that it is too broad in scope. The bill aims to support the struggling news sector, which has seen hundreds of news publications close down in the past decade.

A Meta Canada executive reiterated the company’s stance and its plans for news blocking during testimony this week at a Commons committee. Trudeau denounced their arguments against the proposed law, claiming that they are not only flawed but also detrimental to both democracy and the economy.

The Prime Minister pointed out that important journalism should not be dependent on social media metrics for validation, citing the Washington Post journalists who exposed the Watergate scandal and the reporting on horrific events in Bucha, Ukraine. Critics of Meta’s position argue that the company’s refusal to pay journalists for their work demonstrates a lack of responsibility and a disconnect with broader societal needs.

The Online News Act would require digital giants to engage in fair commercial negotiations with Canadian news outlets for the content shared on their platforms. If no agreement is reached, the parties involved would face binding arbitration. This proposed legislation follows in the footsteps of Australia’s New Media Bargaining Code, which was a world first in its aim to ensure that Google and Meta paid for news content on their platforms.

Similar to the situation in Canada, Australian regulators accused both companies of diverting revenue away from traditional news organizations while benefiting from their content without compensation. Despite initial opposition from major tech firms, the Australian legislation was eventually passed with amendments.