On June 22, 2023 the Online News Act, or Bill C-18, was passed into law by Parliament, resulting in both Google and Meta banning Canadian news on their digital platforms. Google has since made a deal with the Canadian government, but Meta remains firmly entrenched in their position. The Bill has caused controversy within the House of Commons and amongst the public: some cheer it as a win for Canadian news outlets, and others condemn it as government overreach which could cause irreparable damage, especially to young Canadians. Regardless of one’s position, the bill highlights the fundamental problem of declining journalism in Canada and the difficulties in regulating new technologies.
What is Bill C-18 and how did tech giants react?
The Online News Act is a piece of legislation which requires digital platforms to financially compensate news outlets whose work they share on their platform. When people view news on social media instead of on original outlets, those outlets lose engagement and, therefore, revenue. The bill comes amid years of declining revenue for news agencies, and aims to prop up smaller businesses. The general novelty of the bill’s subject has led to mixed reactions over its effects.
Shortly after it was introduced, Google and Meta both made their displeasure known. Both claimed the law was based on the false assumption that tech companies unfairly benefited from new sources. Google stated they were worried the bill would “break the way the web and search engines have worked for more than 30 years.” Nevertheless, in November of 2023, Google and the Canadian Government reached a deal, with Google now paying 100$ million annually to promote Canadian news outlets in its search engines. This money is to be handled by the Canadian Journalism Collective and distributed across the country. Meta, however, remains firm, and since August 2023, has banned access to news for people using their platforms when located in Canada.
Empowering Journalism and Small Outlets?
With 85% of Canadians not paying for news subscriptions, it’s no surprise that Canadian news outlets struggle to stay afloat. The federal government already gives $1.2 billion in funding to the CBC annually, yet the organization continues to face challenges. As such, some, including the Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, applaud Bill C-18 as it contributes to the sustainability of traditional Canadian news outlets. The agreement with Google appeared to bolster this stance, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserts that the “bullying tactics” of tech giants will not be effective. More money can now be distributed to smaller, oftentimes francophone or Indigenous, news outlets, carrying important cultural significance. Given the precedent of Google negotiating a deal, the Liberals have faith that Meta will eventually come around. This legislation has highlighted the fragility of Canada’s news ecosystem, revealing its heavy reliance on tech platforms and limited revenue sources, overall drawing attention to the difficulties of navigating an increasingly digital landscape.
Concerns over News Access and Media Literacy
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Conservatives have been vocal in their opposition. Current leader Pierre Poilievre stated that Bill C-18 is a prime example of government censorship. Conservative Heritage critic Rachael Thomas said they would repeal the act if elected, in addition to cutting the CBC’s federal funding. In addition, the bill poses an accessibility issue, especially for young Canadians. Fears have emerged about the rise of misinformation, as cyber security experts warn users are now more likely to turn to unverified stories. This surge in misinformation threatens critical thinking and raises concerns over a potential drop in media literacy.
Canadians citizens alike are anxious, with a recent survey showing 50 per cent of participants said they were worried about being uninformed, with 64 per cent of young respondents, age 18-34, currently getting their news from social media, have stated they no longer feel it is a reliable platform, due to the amount of news they cannot access anymore. In addition, news outlets now have the much more difficult job of having to get around Meta to distribute their news, causing them to spend more money. While the federal government may have aimed to address important issues, the implementation of this bill could lead to more challenges than solutions.
A Government’s Role in Regulating Technology Governments have always struggled with regulating technology, which can change society faster than lawmakers can draft legislation. Bill C-18 is no different and is one answer to the question of how to support traditional news outlets in a digital landscape. Yet, as recent as Bill C-18 is, it does not address potential issues relating to the latest technologies. Trudeau recently dodged the question of whether the bill will apply to AI such as Microsoft’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini, which have admitted to using news to train bots. Ultimately, this highlights an aspect of futility to government regulation, especially regarding the relevance of Bill C-18, and raises questions on the value of Canadian news, and how much government aid they should receive despite potentially negative consequences.
Edited by Catriona Hayes Morris
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and they do not reflect the position of the McGill Journal of Political Science or the Political Science Students’ Association.
Featured image by Fujiphilm through unsplash