Meta’s Facebook, Instagram Start Blocking News Outlets in Canada

variety.com:

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Meta said Tuesday that it has “begun the process of ending news availability in Canada” across Facebook and Instagram in response to a new Canadian law. “These changes start today, and will be implemented for all people accessing Facebook and Instagram in Canada over the course of the next few weeks,” the social media giant said in an Aug.

1 blog post update. The move comes after the passage of Canada’s Online News Act in June 2023. The law was established to ensure “fair revenue sharing between digital platforms and news outlets,” according to the government, as well as provide for “collective bargaining by news outlets” with big tech firms.

But instead of compensating news organizations, Meta has decided to shut down access to them. “We have been transparent and have made it clear to the Canadian government that the legislation misrepresents the value news outlets receive when choosing to use our platforms,” Meta said in the blog post. “The legislation is based on the incorrect premise that Meta benefits unfairly from news content shared on our platforms, when the reverse is true.