June 9, 2023

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has slammed Google and Meta, accusing them of bullying in respect to a planned Canadian law aimed at financially supporting news publishers.

The measure intends to compel agreements and remuneration between internet behemoths like Google and Meta and publishers for the use of their material. Google has voiced reservations about the measure, arguing that it imposes greater controls than a comparable legislation in Australia. The law, however, has already been approved by Canada’s House of Commons and is presently being considered in the upper house, where rejection is unusual.

Trudeau attacked Google and Meta’s conduct, underlining their tendency to limit Canadians’ access to local journalism rather than providing their fair part. He dismissed their use of bullying techniques and emphasized the necessity of business sponsorship, using Meta’s profitability as an example. Trudeau also emphasized the difficulties that independent local news outlets in Canada confront.

In response, Google spokesman Shay Purdy defended the firm, claiming that they have presented acceptable alternatives to improve the bill’s efficacy and raise investments in the Canadian journalism industry. Purdy, on the other hand, pointed out serious problems in the plan that would make it unworkable for their goods and services. Meanwhile, Meta slammed the legislation, claiming that journalistic information had little commercial value for its platforms.

The sources for this piece include an article in Reuters.