In a meeting with the Canadian Heritage committee, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, assured members that if Bill C-18, a proposed legislation aimed at compensating Canadian media businesses, is approved, it will not repeat the same mistakes it did in Australia.
Meta was chastised in February 2021 when it blocked access to news articles in Australia following the passage of similar legislation. The restriction was subsequently removed after consultations with the administration.
During the committee discussion, Rachel Curran, Meta’s head of public policy for Canada, acknowledged the mistakes made in Australia and underlined the company’s commitment to openness and avoiding similar failures in Canada. “The way Australia unfolded was not ideal,” she remarked.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of worldwide relations, emphasized that Bill C-18 should not be confused with Australian legislation. He highlighted that the Australian code did not apply to Meta since the Treasurer had not designated it. However, if Meta were designated and forced to pay publishers, it would be forced to make a tough decision, similar to the one it is presently facing in Canada.
Clegg had intended to submit Meta’s perspective on Bill C-18, the Online News Act, before the Canadian Heritage committee hearing. He eventually declined to present when the title of the session was modified to “Tech Giants” Current and Ongoing Use of Intimidation and Subversion Tactics to Evade Regulation in Canada and Across the World,” which he deemed aggressive.
The sources for this piece include articles in ITWorldCanada.
