The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, on June 14, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thibault Camus)
WINNIPEG — It’s been one year since Meta’s news ban — triggered by Canada’s Online News Act — has severely impacted small media outlets across the country.
On August 1, 2023, the social media giant officially began restricting news across its platforms in response to the contentious Act. This legislation, originally intended to support media outlets, has ironically led to the opposite outcome for the past year. Despite the negative impact, the federal government shows no inclination to amend the Online News Act or negotiate with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.
The government views this legislation as a success, citing Google’s $100 million annual investment in journalism as a victory. However, Google is just one part of the equation.
Since 2023, Canadians have been deprived of access to legitimate news and professional reporting on the world’s largest social networks, creating an online news desert. Facebook and Instagram are now inundated with meme and “entertainment” accounts that repackage news using sensational headlines and flashy graphics to boost engagement. This content is often created by exploiting the work of reporters, with media outlets rarely credited. These account owners fear that crediting sources could lead to Meta flagging their accounts and restricting their ability to share news.
Earlier this week, the federal government announced nearly $300,000 for the Université de Montréal’s project to combat online misinformation, i.e. “fake news.” A good start would be to ensure the largest social network in the world is allowing legitimate news to flow freely.
As of the latest update, the Department of Heritage and Meta remain incommunicado on the issue. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), now responsible for enforcing the Online News Act, is not known for swiftly resolving issues.
Pascale St-Onge, Canada’s minister of Canadian Heritage, responsible for the Online News Act, speaks in Toronto, on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston)
Small media outlets have experienced a decline in website traffic and advertising revenue due to Meta’s response to the Act. This situation could have been avoided had the federal government heeded Meta’s warnings that they would block news if Bill C-18 (as it was then known) passed into law. The government called Meta’s bluff, and the tech giant did not back down.
Data from the Local News Research Project shows that in 2023 alone, 36 local news outlets closed in Canada.
With Parliament on summer break, an immediate resolution seems unlikely.
As a small regional media outlet since 2007, ChrisD.ca initially saw promise in the Online News Act. The prospect of big tech companies sharing a small portion of their multi-billion dollar pie with news outlets that had lost advertising revenue to these platforms seemed promising. However, due to staffing reductions caused by Meta’s ongoing news ban, ChrisD.ca unfortunately no longer qualifies for the funds provided by Google under the Act. Nevertheless, our news remains restricted on Facebook. Applications to Meta for account reviews have been repeatedly denied. Describing the situation as being caught between a rock and a hard place would be an understatement.
ChrisD.ca receives emails and messages from readers almost daily, asking why they can no longer find our news on Facebook. Many in our audience are either not properly informed or confused about the Online News Act and who is responsible for the loss of news access on social media.
What Needs to Happen
Ultimately, both sides need to return to the negotiating table and resolve the issue in the best interest of the public’s right to know.
The federal government should consider tweaking the legislation to exclude independent media outlets that do not qualify, scrapping the Act altogether and admitting their mistakes, or Meta should agree to some form of compensation for publishers on their platforms, which is the least likely of scenarios.
Until one party concedes, Canadians will continue to have less access to timely news and information. The prolonged impasse is shameful and highlights the government’s misplaced priorities concerning Canadian journalism.
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— ChrisD.ca
