Published on August 1, 2023 at 2:24 p.m
The web giant announces that users in Canada will no longer be able to view and share news content on Facebook and Instagram “in the coming weeks.” (Photo: The Canadian Press)
OTTAWA – Meta said Tuesday it is preparing to officially end news access for all Canadians on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.
The web giant announces that users in Canada will no longer be able to view and share news content on Facebook and Instagram “in the coming weeks.”
Previously, Meta conducted “tests” that restricted news access to 5% of its users in Canada. The company announced on Tuesday that this test phase has now been completed.
This means that links to news articles and other content published by publishers and news channels in Canada will no longer be visible to people accessing the Facebook and Instagram platforms.
Meta says that in determining which organizations constitute “news media,” it relies on the legal definitions and guidance in the Government of Canada’s Online News Act, which received royal assent on June 22.
This law will force “web giants” to enter into agreements with Canadian news media outlets so that they receive fair compensation for content shared or otherwise reused on their platforms.
Meta says its decision to block news in Canada represents a “business decision” in response to this law.
“Going forward, we hope that the Government of Canada recognizes the value we already provide to the information sector and considers policies that respect the principles of a free and open Internet, promote diversity and innovation, and take into account the interests of all. “News media and press publishers,” Meta said in a press release.
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