Facebook and Instagram Will Stop Posting the News In Canada

The social media giant has announced it will stop making news accessible on Instagram and Facebook in Canada, according to a company statement. The decision comes after the Canadian Parliament passed the Online News Act on Thursday. It will require Meta, which controls Facebook and Instagram, and Google to pay news outlets for content shared on their platforms, the Associated Press reported.

The purpose of this law is to “level [the] playing field between online advertising giants and the shrinking news industry,” according to the AP. 

Meta previously revealed that if the bill was passed, it would stop news availability in the region. Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, called this response a "bullying tactic," claiming that "the fact these internet giants would rather cut off Canadians' access to local news than pay their fair share is a real problem," according to The Washington Post.

Google seems to be considering a similar approach. The online search giant told a Canadian Senate committee that banning news links, if the bill was passed, was "reasonable."

This decision comes at a time when tech companies are being criticized for their outsized role in news advertising.

Earlier this week the largest newspaper chain in the U.S., Gannett, sued Google in U.S. federal court, with its CEO alleging "monopolization of [the] advertising technology market."

In 2021, Australia passed comparable measures, according to The New York Times. Meta, then known as Facebook, took a similar stance. Legislation in California is also being considered.

Google did not immediately responded to request for comment and Meta referred to the above-cited company statement.