Meta ends news content in Canada after new law
ONTARIO, CANADA — Meta is halting the availability of news content in Canada on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
This decision directly responds to Canada’s Online News Act (Bill C-18), which mandates payment to media outlets for shared or repurposed news.
Rachel Curran, Meta’s Head of Public Policy in Canada, made the announcement and expressed hope that the Canadian government would later “uphold the principles of a free and open internet.”
Canadian officials were quick to condemn Meta’s action. Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge called the decision irresponsible, stating that Meta preferred to block news access rather than pay “their fair share to news organizations.”
Bloc Québécois heritage critic Martin Champoux labeled the action “deplorable,” noting the loss to users.
At the same time, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre compared Meta’s decision to Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four” and blamed the government for the policy.
Meta plans to implement the new policy over the next few weeks. Though news can still be accessed on publishers’ platforms, the move raises concerns about digital rights, corporate responsibility, and the future of online news accessibility.
