Major search and social platforms are playing hardball in response to Canada’s Online News Act.
In a show of force, Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, locked Canadian users out of news content on Instagram.
The controversial legislation aims to force tech companies like Google and Facebook to provide fair compensation to news publishers for using their content.
Google and Meta claim the law is unworkable and amounts to an “internet link tax.”
Government Of Canada Hoped For Compromise
The Canadian government likely hoped the threat of regulation would bring tech companies to the bargaining table.
However, Meta is calling the government’s bluff by blocking access to news rather than complying with laws it views as unfair.
Google also plans to remove news links, stories, and more for Canadians from Search, Google News, and Discover.
For news publishers struggling in the digital era, losing traffic and visibility from these dominant platforms could be harmful.
The Canadian government argues the law is necessary to support independent journalism. In a statement, Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez called Meta’s actions “unreasonable” and “irresponsible.”