Google and Canada Make a Deal to Avoid Blocking News Links Over New Law
In response to Canada’s Online News Act, Google and Canada have reached an agreement to avert a news blockade set to begin on December 19. The law requires tech giants like Google and Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s owner) to pay for news content.
The deal, finalized after months of negotiations, entails Google paying C$100m annually to news outlets. This funding aims to support various news businesses, including independent and Indigenous ones.
This move by Canada sparked controversy, with tech companies expressing outrage and media groups applauding it for promoting market fairness.
Google had criticized the bill as “unworkable,” stating it breaks the way the web functions. Meta had already started restricting Canadian news content on its platforms since August 1.
The law could have meant up to C$329m per year for news organizations, but after extensive talks, the final compensation settled at C$100m.
As a content creator, it’s interesting to see how countries navigate the relationship between tech giants and news outlets. This echoes similar situations in Australia where Facebook briefly blocked news sharing, ultimately leading to negotiations and deals.
It raises questions about the balance between supporting the news industry and ensuring the digital landscape remains functional. (Source: BBC News)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67571027