Meta Platforms (META) is restricting the content of some Quebec media outlets on its Facebook social media platform as the tech giant continues to spar with Canada’s federal government over its online news legislation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the move by Meta Platforms is “unacceptable” and represents an attack on Canada's democracy.
Trudeau’s comments come after Le Journal de Québec said its news is being blocked from readers who view its articles on Facebook. That also applies to news shared by other Quebec publications such as Le Journal de Montréal and TVA Nouvelles.
Meta Platforms has said that it is running a test in June that temporarily blocks news content for up to 5% of its Canadian users on Facebook and Instagram.
Meta Platforms and other technology companies, such as Alphabet (GOOGL), are protesting the Liberal government’s proposed online news legislation known as Bill C-18.
The legislation seeks to compensate Canadian news outlets for the use of their content at a time when foreign tech companies such as Meta and Google dominate the market for online advertisements.
Trudeau has said that he hopes Bill C-18 becomes law before Canada’s Parliament breaks for its summer recess.
Should Bill C-18 become law, Meta, Google, and others will be forced to enter into agreements with Canadian news publishers to pay them for news content that appears on their websites if it can be proven that the content helps the companies earn income.
Meta has said it will comply by ending news on Facebook and Instagram. Google has said that removing news from its search listings is also under consideration.
The stock of Meta Platforms has increased 65% in the past 12 months and currently trades at $271.32 U.S. per share.
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