Google to Block Canadian News in Response to New Law

Canada's parliament recently passed the Online News Act, which requires tech giants like Google and Meta's Facebook to negotiate deals with news providers. In response, Google has announced its intention to block Canadian news in the country.

This move follows Meta's decision to restrict news content for Canadian users. The law is set to take effect in six months. Similar legislation in Australia underwent amendments after Meta briefly blocked users from accessing news. Since then, Google and Meta have negotiated over 30 deals with Australian media companies.

While Google and Meta have engaged in discussions with the Canadian government about the legislation, the government maintains that the law will provide fair compensation to struggling news outlets and enhance fairness in the digital news market. However, the very media associations and outlets that advocated for the law now face a potential threat to their businesses, as Google drives a significant portion of web traffic to Canadian news outlets.

News Media Canada, which represents numerous news organisations, supports the law and believes there is a viable path forward. It urges all stakeholders to act responsibly and actively engage in the regulatory process to ensure balanced, predictable, and fair regulation.

- CyberBeat