Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, announced last Friday (2) that it would restrict access to news for certain users in Canada. The tech giant’s move comes in response to the Canadian government’s attempt to pass a law that forces big tech companies to pay for journalistic content posted on their platforms.
The company said testing will be done on Facebook and Instagram, limiting news viewing. The company said these random tests will help develop a product solution that eliminates news availability in Canada.
Bill C-18, known as Online News Actfollows the model of the Australian law passed in 2021. The proposal, which has already been passed by the House and sent to the Senate, requires platforms to facilitate access to news and link it to search results to compensate editors chief.
In March, Google had already temporarily limited access to news content to 4% of Canadian users.
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