Facebook starts blocking news
Meta carries out its threats. The social media giant, which owns the Facebook and Instagram platforms, says it has "begun to end access to news in Canada." The company says it blocks information domestically to "comply" with Ottawa's Online News Act.
According to tests conducted by La Presse, however, no immediate changes occurred on Facebook with regard to this daily. The platform's algorithm allowed the publication of this article on the day of Meta's announcement, Tuesday, August 1.
"These changes are effective today and will be implemented for all users accessing Facebook and Instagram in Canada in the coming weeks," the company said in a blog post.
You no longer see our content on your social media? Here's how to make sure you don't miss anything.Bill C-18, passed by the House of Commons, still does not have the force of law. Sanctioned last June, it is not to apply until December.
The new text should oblige web giants to negotiate with news media compensation for content circulating on their platforms.
In response, Meta and Google have been threatening for months to remove access to Canadian news. The two Californian giants had already carried out "tests" by withdrawing access to the country's media from some of their customers in recent months.
Online search giant Alphabet, which operates the Google search engine, cut off access to Canadian news to 4%
of its users in the country in February.
The company also says it is preparing to remove links to news in Canada, but does not intend to do so before C-18 comes into force. Alphabet is reportedly still negotiating with Ottawa.
New minister protestsThe new Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge, who just took office during the shuffle last week, considers "irresponsible" the attitude of Meta and its popular platform.
"Facebook knows that it has no obligation under the law at this time," she wrote in an email to La Presse. The company has not yet participated in the regulatory process. Web giants prefer to block access to news for their users instead of paying their fair share for media work. »
Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage
It notes that Google and Facebook "receive 80% of all digital advertising revenue in Canada." "Meanwhile, hundreds of newsrooms have closed. A free and independent press is fundamental to our democracy, and Canadians expect web giants to respect the law in our country. »
She reiterates that Ottawa has no intention of bowing. "Facebook is trying to send a message, not only to Canada, but also to other countries like New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States."
Pascale St-Onge is a former advertising employee at La Presse. Before entering politics in 2021, she also headed the Fédération nationale des communications de la CSN, a group of unions that represent many Quebec journalists, including those of La Presse.
Written declarationIn a written statement, Meta Canada spokeswoman Rachel Curran says Ottawa is aware of the digital giant's concerns and that it is impossible to comply with C-18.
"This law is based on the misconception that Meta unfairly benefits from news content shared on our platforms,
when in fact the opposite is true."
She says the media "voluntarily" publish their content on Facebook, but it's not the news that attracts Canadians to the platform.
Rachel Curran, who was a close adviser to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said she hopes Ottawa will recognize the "value" Meta offers to the news sector and adopt policies that respect "the principles of a free and open internet."
Political reactionsMeta's decision provoked strong political reactions. The Bloc Quebecois strongly denounced "a manoeuvre of intimidation".
"This deplorable decision serves no one. In fact, the big losers are the users who will be deprived of their news on social networks. The Bloc Quebecois will always stand up for our media," said Bloc MP Martin Champoux.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre blamed the Trudeau government for Meta's "censorship."
"It is not in democracies that we see the disappearance of news," he said during a press conference outside parliament, believing that this kind of situation normally occurs in dictatorships such as North Korea.
He argued that the Trudeau government's recent legislation on online news and the modernization of the Broadcasting Act is also a form of censorship.
According to tests conducted by La Presse, however, no immediate changes occurred on Facebook with regard to this daily. The platform's algorithm allowed the publication of this article on the day of Meta's announcement, Tuesday, August 1.
"These changes are effective today and will be implemented for all users accessing Facebook and Instagram in Canada in the coming weeks," the company said in a blog post.
You no longer see our content on your social media? Here's how to make sure you don't miss anything.Bill C-18, passed by the House of Commons, still does not have the force of law. Sanctioned last June, it is not to apply until December.
The new text should oblige web giants to negotiate with news media compensation for content circulating on their platforms.
In response, Meta and Google have been threatening for months to remove access to Canadian news. The two Californian giants had already carried out "tests" by withdrawing access to the country's media from some of their customers in recent months.
Online search giant Alphabet, which operates the Google search engine, cut off access to Canadian news to 4%
of its users in the country in February.
The company also says it is preparing to remove links to news in Canada, but does not intend to do so before C-18 comes into force. Alphabet is reportedly still negotiating with Ottawa.
New minister protestsThe new Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge, who just took office during the shuffle last week, considers "irresponsible" the attitude of Meta and its popular platform.
"Facebook knows that it has no obligation under the law at this time," she wrote in an email to La Presse. The company has not yet participated in the regulatory process. Web giants prefer to block access to news for their users instead of paying their fair share for media work. »
Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage
It notes that Google and Facebook "receive 80% of all digital advertising revenue in Canada." "Meanwhile, hundreds of newsrooms have closed. A free and independent press is fundamental to our democracy, and Canadians expect web giants to respect the law in our country. »
She reiterates that Ottawa has no intention of bowing. "Facebook is trying to send a message, not only to Canada, but also to other countries like New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States."
Pascale St-Onge is a former advertising employee at La Presse. Before entering politics in 2021, she also headed the Fédération nationale des communications de la CSN, a group of unions that represent many Quebec journalists, including those of La Presse.
Written declarationIn a written statement, Meta Canada spokeswoman Rachel Curran says Ottawa is aware of the digital giant's concerns and that it is impossible to comply with C-18.
"This law is based on the misconception that Meta unfairly benefits from news content shared on our platforms,
when in fact the opposite is true."
She says the media "voluntarily" publish their content on Facebook, but it's not the news that attracts Canadians to the platform.
Rachel Curran, who was a close adviser to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said she hopes Ottawa will recognize the "value" Meta offers to the news sector and adopt policies that respect "the principles of a free and open internet."
Political reactionsMeta's decision provoked strong political reactions. The Bloc Quebecois strongly denounced "a manoeuvre of intimidation".
"This deplorable decision serves no one. In fact, the big losers are the users who will be deprived of their news on social networks. The Bloc Quebecois will always stand up for our media," said Bloc MP Martin Champoux.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre blamed the Trudeau government for Meta's "censorship."
"It is not in democracies that we see the disappearance of news," he said during a press conference outside parliament, believing that this kind of situation normally occurs in dictatorships such as North Korea.
He argued that the Trudeau government's recent legislation on online news and the modernization of the Broadcasting Act is also a form of censorship.
