Google, Meta Using ‘Bullying Tactics’ Against Canada’s News Bill: Justin Trudeau

Alphabet’s Google and Meta Platforms are utilizing “bullying techniques” against a Canadian push aimed at ensuring financial support for news publishers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday.

The proposed legislation is designed to compel internet giants like Google and Meta’s Facebook to negotiate commercial deals and pay publishers for their content.

The U.S. firms say proposals in the bill, dubbed the “Online News Act,” are unsustainable for his or her companies.

Google and Facebook have run assessments this yr to restrict some customers from viewing or sharing news content material in Canada as a possible response if the laws is handed into regulation in its present kind.

“The undeniable fact that these web giants would slightly lower off Canadians’ entry to native news than pay their fair proportion is an actual downside, and now they’re resorting to bullying techniques to attempt to get their means – it’s not going to work,” Trudeau informed reporters in Ottawa.

The legislation passed Canada’s House of Commons in December and is in the unelected upper chamber of the parliament, which rarely blocks legislation cleared by the lower house.

Canada’s media industry wants tighter regulation of tech companies to prevent them from elbowing news businesses out of the online advertising market.

The bill, introduced in April 2022, is similar to a ground-breaking law passed in Australia in 2021.

“The various internet giants like Meta are posting every year record profits while at the same time local independent news is struggling across this country,” Trudeau stated. “We will proceed to make it possible for these extremely worthwhile companies contribute to strengthening our democracy.”

Google says the proposed rules are more stringent than those enacted in Australia and Europe. Spokesperson Shay Purdy, reacting to Trudeau’s remarks, said the bill “has some serious problems that make it unworkable for our products and services”.

Last week, Meta stated the invoice was basically flawed. The firm says news has no financial worth for its platforms.

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated news company feed – Reuters)