The Liberal government was warned this could happen. They ignored the warnings, and pushed ahead with an ideological centralizing agenda.
Some Canadians are now losing access to online news through Google, due to Liberal Bill C-18.
The Online News Act would require social media companies to ‘compensate’ news organizations for ‘sharing’ their content.
Yes, it is absurd as it sounds.
News organizations benefit from being able to share on social media, and sharing on social media is a choice.
The platform is provided by the social network, and the content is provided by those who chose to post to it.
Yet, the Liberals have pushed the absurd idea that the social media platforms are somehow ‘stealing’ the content by allowing it to be posted, and should pay for links.
Unsurprisingly, social networks have warned that they would likely just stop allowing the sharing of news links from Canadian outlets.
It’s a logical and reasonable response to the absurd Liberal legislation.
And now, it’s starting to happen.
Google is testing out the blocking of news links in Canada, with about 4% of the populace affected.
This is said to be a response to the impending legislation, basically a test-run of what would be a wider-scale program:
“#BREAKING: Google blocking news content for some Canadians in response to government bill”
#BREAKING: Google blocking news content for some Canadians in response to government bill #cdnpoli
— Mickey Djuric (@MickeyDjuric) February 22, 2023
“The company says it is limiting access to news content online to under four per cent of its Canadian users of its products, including its popular search engine and the Discover feature on Android devices that carries news and sports stories.”
The company says it is limiting access to news content online to under four per cent of its Canadian users of its products, including its popular search engine and the Discover feature on Android devices that carries news and sports stories.
— Mickey Djuric (@MickeyDjuric) February 22, 2023
“The company says all types of news content are being affected by the test, which will run for about five weeks, including content created by Canadian broadcasters and newspapers.”
The company says all types of news content are being affected by the test, which will run for about five weeks, including content created by Canadian broadcasters and newspapers.
— Mickey Djuric (@MickeyDjuric) February 22, 2023
Hilariously, the Liberals are claiming they won’t be ‘intimidated’ by the move:
“A spokeswoman for Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez says Canadians will not be intimidated and called it disappointing that Google is borrowing from Meta’s playbook.”
A spokeswoman for Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez says Canadians will not be intimidated and called it disappointing that Google is borrowing from Meta's playbook.
— Mickey Djuric (@MickeyDjuric) February 22, 2023
Law Professor Michael Geist – who has been a strong voice in Canada against both Bill C-18 and Bill C-11 – noted that the government doesn’t seem to understand how their own legislation works:
“This is the problem with Bill C-18 in a nutshell. @pablorodriguez spokesperson says they want compensation for use. But that’s not what the bill says. It mandates payments for “facilitating access to news” including just links. That’s not compensable use. https://theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-google-blocking-news-content-for-some-canadians-in-response-to/”
This is the problem with Bill C-18 in a nutshell. @pablorodriguez spokesperson says they want compensation for use. But that’s not what the bill says. It mandates payments for “facilitating access to news” including just links. That’s not compensable use.https://t.co/5KTc70zKca pic.twitter.com/m06awlRGBZ
— Michael Geist (@mgeist) February 23, 2023
Whether this is incompetence or malice by the government – likely a combination of both – there’s no denying that Canadian free expression is facing a sustained and withering assault from the Liberal government.
Spencer Fernando
