Meta is temporarily blocking some Canadian users from accessing news content on Facebook and Instagram . The move is part of a test that is expected to last until the end of June.
The block comes in response to a proposed bill in the country that would require major tech companies to pay publishers for linking to and using their content online. Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is currently being considered in the Senate and could be passed within the month.
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Meta said it is willing to permanently block news content on Facebook and Instagram for Canadian users if the bill is passed.
Canadian Minister Pablo Rodriguez called Meta 's move "disappointing" and said Canadians will not be intimidated by such tactics. Previously, he had commented: " All we ask of Facebook is that it negotiates fair agreements with news organizations when it benefits from their work ."
The temporary ban will affect 1-5% of the 24 million Canadian users, said Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta Canada.
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Randomly selected Canadian users will neither be able to view nor share news content on Instagram and Facebook.
The block affects links to articles, reels or Stories.
Major news organizations, including the New York Times or the BBC, could be affected in Canada during the test, if they are randomly selected.
Meta said it is randomly selecting news publishers, who will be notified that some users in Canada will not be able to see or share their news content. Users will still have access to their accounts, pages, business suites and ads.
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It is worth noting that several traditional media outlets and broadcasters have praised the proposed bill, which promises to “enhance fairness” in the digital news market and financially strengthen news organizations. Tech giants, such as Meta and Google, have been accused in the past of disrupting and dominating the advertising industry, overshadowing smaller, traditional players.
Meta has made similar moves in the past. In 2021, it briefly blocked news from its platform in Australia. The country had passed legislation that would have required tech companies to pay publishers for using their news. The company later struck deals with Australian publishers.
Source: www.huffpost.com
