Tech giants Google and Meta (formerly Facebook) are taking a stand against the Canadian government’s Online News Act. Google has chosen to withhold its new artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Bard, from Canada due to regulatory uncertainties surrounding the law. Bard, an AI-driven conversational tool, includes news links that will be subject to regulations under the Online News Act. Both Google and Meta have stated that they would remove news links in Canada to comply with the law before it comes into effect later this year.
The Online News Act mandates global tech companies to enter into agreements with Canadian news outlets for compensation related to the sharing or repurposing of content on their platforms. Google had previously expanded Bard to the European Union after resolving regulatory concerns. The chatbot is available in over 200 countries but excludes Canada, along with countries like Russia, North Korea, China, Belarus, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Meanwhile, Meta has launched an advertising campaign on its Facebook and Instagram platforms to oppose the law and explain its decision to remove news links. The company plans to run the ads in both English and French on digital platforms and radio across Canada in the coming weeks. Meta argues that the Online News Act is based on an incorrect premise and that social media companies do not benefit unfairly from news content.
In response, Corus Entertainment, the parent company of Global News, has suspended all advertising with Meta and is encouraging partners and clients to do the same. The company aims to find solutions that recognize the value of the Canadian media ecosystem, journalists, and news organizations.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez asserts that Google and Meta are not currently obligated under the law since the regulatory process is still ongoing. Rodriguez believes that the concerns raised by the tech companies can be addressed through negotiations, emphasizing that platforms hold significant power over news organizations.
While Google intends to collaborate with the government throughout the regulatory process, Meta maintains that the process lacks the capacity to make changes to certain parts of the legislation with which it disagrees. The debate continues as tech companies and the Canadian government navigate the implications and obligations of the Online News Act.