Meta has stated it would remove access to news content on Facebook and Instagram for users in Canada after the lawmakers in the country passed legislation designed to force the internet giant and Google to pay news publishers for hosting their content.
The Online News Act was approved by the Senate upper chamber recently and is set to be formally adopted soon. The law is established to support news organizations that have been struggling with reduced ad revenue in the age of internet.
Meta said the news content’s removal from its platform for users in Canada will happen over the next few months.
In a statement disclosed by Meta shortly after the legislators gave the new law approval, the company said: “Today, we are confirming that news availability will be ended on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada prior to the Online News Act taking effect.”
“We have repeatedly shared that in order to comply with Bill C-18 … content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will no longer be available to people accessing our platforms in Canada.”
According to Reuters, Google had earlier stated that Canada’s law is extremely harsh and had suggested amendments to relax it but Canada’s federal government rejected the suggestion, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing Meta and Google of using “bullying tactics” in their campaign against the legislation.
While responding to the development, a Google spokesperson said: “We are continuing to urgently seek to work with the government on a path forward.”
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