Big Tech vs. Canadian news: the battle over C-18, explained | About That

The federal government has suspended all of its advertising on Facebook and Instagram as the clash with tech giants like Meta and Google over Bill C-18, the Online News Act, continues. Andrew Chang explores what the bill means for how you get your news online.

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[summersnow]

I support that internet platform should compensate media if their content is shown directly but charging for showing links is unjustified. It is also readonable for Google and Meta to remove those links if they need to pay. Just like a buyer decided not to pay and walk away from a deal. How’s that bullying?

[chouinardfrancais]

google: well show relevent info to the world and make the internet accessible to everyone for free!
canada: if you use canadian content you have to pay us
google: ok i just wont use canadian content then...
canada: 👁👄👁

[mechalchuk]

I don't like it. I jump on FB during morning coffee and catch up on local news and discussions from pages I follow.

There is zero chance Im going to spend my time instead bookmarking these news sources in a browser and scrolling through pages of content to see if there is anything interesting.

Furthermore, the ability for a community of readers to discuss in the comments their thoughts on the article is gone. This is what social media is all about.

Im part of the 50% who isn't going to visit the CBC website. In my eyes, Canadian media should be happy to have their content made so accessible on FB and

Something something, "biting the hand that feeds you".

[zombiesithblade]

Except for when the government does not change the Canadian government is stubborn as heck in the stupidest of ways.

[enigma]

The CBC loves to bring up the Australian law. Interestingly, yesterday CBC had a speaker from Australia who accidentally spoke the truth. The media law is Australia has NEVER been used. Wanna copy that, Canadia? Put a law on the books but not use it?

[viewfromthehighchair]

Here is some advice for The CBC and other media companies (Canadian or otherwise); when I click on your pages (from wherever), I'm met with a pop-up window asking me to accept your cookies (a definite GFY moment) and usally also a pop-up asking me to "sign up" in some way or other to your platform. To be crystal clear, I'm there, as you point out, to look at AN ARTICLE!! I might stay for more; however, it depends on what I WANT TO DO, not on your desperation to have me look at more content.

I can tell you this: putting more roadblocks in my way between me and the content I want to read all but insures that I won't even look at the one article I came to your sight to look at. You, no doubt, know about that button in the top right of the screen with a little "X" in it? Well, it is what I immediately press to get away from your cloying need for me to be a member or give you access to all my information so, like I said, GFY.

I'm glad I could help you understand.

[simonh]

Key phrase: "most will only stay in new sites for seconds", maybe if you're not competitive, its' time to let the market do its thing and retire your station vs depending on the government to help your business whilst the rest of the economy don't have that support. Big tech help people access information and knowledge for free, whilst CBC's done what exactly? ... I really hope one day our tax payers money can stop supporting the CBC and let the market run it's course, even if it means to close up shop or layoff thousands of your employees

[jptrainor]

A simple marketing campaign to educate people how to access the Canadian news sites directly might go a long way toward relieving the dependence on Google and Meta to provide links.

[Alex-jslg]

I guess I still just don't understood why the decision was made to allow news organizations to charge for social media sites *linking* to their content. It makes sense to me that they'd charge if the platform's users are ripping and rehosting copies of the content, but what's the logic behind charging for a link?

[justinventela]

Maybe instead of having a business model that was built in the early 1900s is the problem and the traffic from And the main source of your traffic is from Facebook and YouTube.
This isn't fighting back .... this is trying to have your cake and eat it too

[citizenadvocate]

So here is a question. This is a CBC Youtube Channel. Would CBC's video on its own channel fall in the class of links that Google (Youtube) would have to pay extra to CBC (as the linkee) for.

[doylejodi]

What huge company would want to be ‘forced’ to pay out money they never had to before?! That’s silly.
I would do exactly what they are going to do-Axe Canadian news.
Overall, it’s the better business decision for them.

[Covargo]

I wonder if google and facebook could turn the free advertising they allow with linking into a charge for the marketing of pushing traffic to news sites in a sense hit publishers with a UNO reverse card a hyperlink tax to help google continue to run.

[manicdemise]

As a Canadian I always root against our government.

[lastusername]

Trying to spin a bad bill into something good. Attempt failed

[dukiedozers]

I don’t understand the liberal’s mentality. How is penalizing platforms for allowing access to news outlets at the core of a free and informed society?

[Ben-nkro]

Wow, I didn’t know google and Meta are considered anti democratic.

[philipbugala]

My confusion is that aren't news companies the ones using the platforms in the first place?, shouldn't they be the ones to pay the tech platforms in the first place?

[simpledragon]

When we click on accept what are the implications? We accept fine print we can not understand.

[depthsounderdave]

The Canadian govt. is trying so hard to keep their faithful servants employed.