:strip_icc()/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2021/9/p/pf3amsR8C7D9oIg4JFdw/whats-fb-ig.jpg "Facebook and Instagram will block access to news in Canada after the law is passed | Technology")
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it would block access to news in Canada after the country’s Senate passed the Online News Act, which sees ‘big tech’ pay the media for the content they share on their platforms.
- Find out which countries are debating whether “big tech” should pay for information appearing in their feed
Alphabet, owner of Google, will also have to negotiate with media companies. According to The Associated Press, Meta did not provide details on the timing of the change, but said it would remove local news from its platforms before the law takes effect in six months.
“We have repeatedly shared that in order to comply with Bill C-18, which was passed by Parliament today, content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will not will be more available to people accessing our platforms in Canada,” confirmed Lisa Laventure, Head of Communications for Meta in Canada.
Google, which even tested blocking access to information for some Canadian users before the law was passed, told The Verge website it was now looking to talk to the government about a possible solution.
So far, Canada’s federal government has rejected suggestions to make changes, according to Reuters.
Since 2008, more than 450 news sites have shut down in Canada as tech giants gain more and more space, which also prompted the creation of the law, according to Agence France Presse.
“They [as empresas de mídia social] can play an important role in supporting the production of credible news and information,” the Canadian Parliament said during the discussions.
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