Canada Considers Regulating Meta’s Threads Platform, Bill C-18 Could Apply
The Canadian government is considering regulating Meta’s new social network platform, Threads. In a recent statement, Pablo Rodriguez, the Canadian Heritage Minister, indicated that the platform could potentially fall under the regulations outlined in the Online News Act, also known as Bill C-18.
Since its launch last week, Threads has garnered more than 100 million users. The Online News Act primarily targets Meta’s properties, including Facebook and Instagram, as well as Google’s search engine and news products. This legislation has sparked a back-and-forth between the federal government and the tech giants.
In response to the new law, both Meta and Google have threatened to block Canadian publishers’ content. Rodriguez, on the other hand, remains firm in seeking compensation for Canada’s journalism industry. As a sign of its commitment, the federal government has withdrawn its annual advertising spend of $10 million from Meta’s platforms. Additionally, several news and telecommunications businesses, such as Quebecor, Bell Media, and Torstar Corp., have followed suit with their own advertising boycotts. The Universite de Montreal has also joined the movement.
Despite Google’s initial threat to block Canadian publishers’ content, Rodriguez has not taken the same measures against the company. He believes that any concerns from Google will be addressed through forthcoming regulations that the government is currently devising for the full implementation of the Online News Act later this year. Rodriguez stated that Google has remained engaged in discussions with the government, whereas Meta has adopted a more confrontational approach.
The details of Rodriguez’s conversations with Google have not been disclosed, but he described them as open, frank discussions. He also released a document proposing a financial cap for Google and Facebook regarding compensation provided to media companies. The proposed cap would be based on a platform’s estimated Canadian revenues and would apply specifically to each platform’s position within the news marketplace. Rodriguez emphasized that non-monetary offerings, such as training, might also be considered as exemptions. The document aims to provide clarity on what constitutes a significant portion of independent local news businesses, Indigenous news outlets, and official-language minority community news outlets.
Although the specifics of the financial cap and the number of organizations involved have not been revealed, Rodriguez assured that the regulations would have nationwide reach, impacting English and French publications and ensuring the representation of Indigenous media and outlets of all sizes. CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, might also benefit from the Online News Act, depending on the deals struck between Google, Meta, and the broadcaster.
While Rodriguez maintains an open stance for discussions with Meta, he expressed disappointment in the company’s attitude, which he considers irresponsible. He emphasized the government’s desire to find a resolution and called for Meta to come to the table.
As the Canadian government continues to explore the regulation of Meta’s Threads platform, it aims to strike a balance between protecting the journalism industry and fostering a cooperative relationship with tech giants like Meta and Google. The forthcoming regulations will play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of online news in Canada, affecting publishers, platforms, and the general public alike.
