Facebook's Meta logo sign is seen at the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on, Oct. 28, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Tony Avelar)

By Canadian Press

Social Media

Meta to block access to news on Facebook, Instagram if Online News Act adopted as-is

Mar 11, 2023 | 5:00 PM

OTTAWA — Facebook and Instagram’s parent company says it will stop making news content available on its platforms if the proposed federal Online News Act passes in its current form.

Meta spokesperson Lisa Laventure says the company made the decision because the act will require it to pay publishers for links or content it doesn’t post.

Laventure says paying for these posts is neither sustainable nor workable for Meta.

Tech giants like Meta and Google have fought against the proposed law known as Bill C-18, which would require digital giants such as Google to negotiate deals that would compensate Canadian media companies for linking to or repurposing their content online.

Large Canadian media companies and the federal Liberal government argue the bill would level the playing field for news outlets that compete with tech giants for advertising dollars.

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Facebook blocked access to news in Australia after a similar law was discussed in 2021, but quickly backtracked after the government made changes to an arbitration mechanism in the bill.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2023.

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The Canadian Press