Meta’s long-awaited response to Canada’s online news law, Bill C-18, is set to begin on Tuesday. In an effort to counter the legislation, Meta plans to block news content for Canadian users on Facebook and Instagram. The law, framed by the Liberal government as a measure to support the journalism industry affected by tech giants’ dominance in the digital advertising market, would require platforms like Meta and Google to negotiate agreements with publishers who produce news stories.
Failure to strike such deals could lead to financial penalties for the tech companies. Notably, some Canadian news publishers, including Torstar, which publishes the Toronto Star, have expressed their support for the legislation. This move by Meta marks a significant development in the ongoing debate between tech companies and the government over news content and its distribution on social media platforms.