Peter Menzies, the former vice-chair of the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC), has expressed strong criticism towards Canadian authorities, including News Media Canada, Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez, Bell Media, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for their legislative actions which he believes have led to Meta’s decision to ban news content on its platforms in several countries. Menzies described Canada’s legislative approach as a form of “global leadership in legislative incompetence,” highlighting the unintended consequences of the country’s regulatory stance on digital news distribution.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently announced its decision to eliminate news content on its platforms in Australia, Germany, and France, following a similar move in Canada. The company cited a significant decline in the usage of its Facebook News feature in Australia and the U.S., prompting a reevaluation of its investment priorities towards content types favored by its users, such as short-form video.
Menzies pointed out that the Canadian government’s insistence on legislation, specifically the Online News Act which requires tech companies like Meta to compensate Canadian news outlets for their content, may have influenced Meta’s broader strategy concerning news content on its platforms. According to Meta, this legislation was based on the false assumption that the company disproportionately benefits from news content, whereas Meta contends that news organizations voluntarily share their content on social platforms to widen their audience reach.
The ban on news content by Meta has sparked a debate on the impact on news dissemination and the role of big tech companies in supporting journalism. While CBC’s Catherine Tait blames tech giants for the broadcaster’s financial troubles and the spread of disinformation, the Australian government criticized Meta’s withdrawal from paying for news content as a failure to support the sustainability of news media.
This situation raises important questions about the future of news distribution in the digital age and the responsibility of tech platforms in supporting journalistic content while balancing their business interests and user preferences.