Have you heard the news? Maybe not, since Meta is making good on its promise to pull access to the news in Canada.
What happened: Meta has started the process of ending news availability in Canada in response to the Online News Act, a law requiring digital platforms to pay local news outlets.
- The law is based on the premise that Big Tech benefits unfairly from news content shared on its platforms, taking away advertising dollars from those who create it.
- Meta claims the reverse is true. “Outlets voluntarily share content … to expand their audiences and help their bottom line,” said Meta Canada’s Head of Public Policy.
Why it matters: Canada has been made into an example as other jurisdictions—notably, the UK, California, and Indonesia—consider similar laws to help struggling local news outlets. In any case, it’s the same Canadian outlets (and their readers) that are now paying the price.
- Many digital platforms rely on social media to reach readers; meanwhile, 63% of Canadians expressed concern about losing access to news on their go-to platforms.
What’s next: Over the coming weeks, people in Canada will no longer be able to view or share any news content on Facebook and Instagram, including both articles and videos.
- You’ll have to access news (outside The Peak) just like back in the day: By going to websites, downloading mobile news apps, or giving a newspaper subscription a go.
- Google has also announced plans to remove news content from its platforms in Canada, setting the scene for the next act of Canada’s digital news showdown.
Bottom line: Right or wrong, democratic or not, will-or-won’t-it pan out, the fallout around news puts into perspective just how much power these platforms have.—SB
