Canada Seeks Deal to Restore News Content on Facebook
Canada Seeks Deal to Restore News Content on Facebook
Two and a half years after Meta banned Canadian news content from Facebook and Instagram in opposition to the Online News Act, the Canadian government is now negotiating to bring publishers back to the platform. According to The Globe and Mail, Heritage Department officials are currently in preliminary talks with Meta about restoring Canadian news outlets to its apps.
The Online News Act Dispute
Canada’s Online News Act was designed to address imbalances in the local news ecosystem by forcing large online platforms like Meta and Google to pay publishers for news content shared across their services. However, both companies argued the legislation misunderstood the relationship between platforms and readers. Meta responded dramatically by blocking all Canadian news outlets in 2023 to demonstrate it doesn’t require their content, effectively calling the government’s bluff.
Trade Negotiations and Political Pressure
The U.S. government is also pushing for changes to Canada’s Online News Act as part of ongoing trade negotiations, claiming the legislation unfairly penalizes American companies and undermines press freedom. Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller’s spokesperson confirmed that discussions focus on how to restore news publishers while addressing platform concerns.
Meta’s position remains consistent: news content provides minimal benefit to its platform, and the company can thrive without it. Most proposals forcing platforms to share revenue with publishers ultimately fail because publishers benefit from Meta’s referral traffic, not vice versa. Industry experts note similar attempts in Australia and other regions have also proven ineffective, largely driven by pressure from established media outlets seeking government assistance to offset advertising losses.
The negotiations signal a potential victory for Meta’s hardline approach, suggesting the revised legislation may eliminate mandatory payment requirements for news content sharing.