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Facebook and Instagram to restrict news access in Canada (www.bbc.com)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by kuontom@kbin.social to c/news@kbin.social

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Canada's Online News Act, which cleared the senate on Thursday, lays out rules requiring platforms like Meta and Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news organisations for their content.

Google called the bill "unworkable" in its current form and said it was seeking to work with the government to find a "path forward".

Meta has called the law "fundamentally flawed legislation that ignores the realities of how our platforms work".

The Online News Act is expected to take effect in Canada in six months.

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[–] FfaerieOxide@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can't figure out for the life of me if this would apply to kbin.

[–] kuontom@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

digital news intermediary means an online communications platform, including a search engine or social media service

news content is made available if access to the news content, or any portion of it, is facilitated by any means, including an index, aggregation or ranking of news content

These points seem to indicate a website like kbin would fall under this act, being a content aggregator and social media service.

At the same time,

This Act applies in respect of a digital news intermediary if, having regard to the following factors, there is a significant bargaining power imbalance between its operator and news businesses:

the size of the intermediary or the operator
whether the market for the intermediary gives the operator a strategic advantage over news businesses
whether the intermediary occupies a prominent market position.

Since kbin is small and not in any market position, this shouldn't apply.

[–] sirspate@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

I am shocked, shocked at this outcome..

[–] wave_walnut@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

I can't get anything of the law. Who can do?

[–] isaacsilver@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

Maybe not getting your news from Facebook isn't such a bad thing?

[–] printerjammed@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

All in all this is bad for Canadians. I blame the gov, people should be able to see news from every source and make informed decisions

[–] nicktron@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

You clearly don’t understand the situation. If you’re getting your news from Facebook you aren’t informed. You are spoon fed what Meta wants you to see.

[–] Borg286@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Spain also tried to tell Google News to pay up for what they offered for free to people. Google simply shut it down. I haven't checked up to see if news agencies floundered, went elsewhere or thrived as the rich touted would happen.

Canada is claiming the same issues. I suspect there is a symbiotic relationship between news agencies and social media that connects eyes with publishers.

I agree with the general sentiment that Facebook users are more siloed than those heading to Google News. But paying to show a snippet just isn't feasible.

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