06/29/2023 – 11:35 p.m.
Google on Thursday became the latest Silicon Valley giant to block access to Canadian news sites from its platform, after Ottawa approved a bill that requires digital giants to pay for this content.
The text, which became law last week, aims to support Canada’s news production sector, which has seen the closure of hundreds of publications over the past decade.
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The law requires digital giants to enter into agreements with Canadian media and information sites regarding news and information shared on their platforms.
Google said the new law “is not practical.” On his blog, he adds that “it will be more difficult for Canadians to find information on the Internet and for journalists to reach their audiences.”
Canadian users will still be able to access news sites by entering their address directly into their browser or through apps.
Meta, another tech giant, announced last Thursday that it would also block Canadian news sites on its platforms.
Canada’s rule is based on Australia’s New Media Bargaining Code, the first of its kind in the world to force Google and Meta to pay for news content on their platforms.
At the end of 2021, AFP signed a five-year agreement with Google on related rights, to remunerate content from the agency.
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