In response to the Canadian government’s online news bill, Google has begun testing to block access to news content for some users in Canada. Bill C-18 (Online News Act) requires platforms such as Facebook and Google to negotiate agreements to pay news publishers for their content. The bill is currently pending in the Canadian Senate.
The company told TechCrunch that the test will affect a “small percentage” of users in Canada.
A company spokesperson told TechCrunch in an email: “We are briefly testing potential product responses to Bill C-18, which affects a small percentage of Canadian users. We are conducting tests and evaluating potential changes to our search.We believe that the C-18 is overly broad and, if left untouched, a product that Canadians use and depend on on a daily basis. We have been completely transparent about our concerns that it may affect the We are still working on.”
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said on Twitter Canadians aren’t intimidated by testing, and tech giants need to be more transparent and accountable.
“I’m disappointed to hear that Google is trying to block access to news sites,” Rodriguez said. Tweet“Canadians have nothing to fear. After all, all we want from the tech giants is to pay journalists when they use their work. That’s why we introduced the Online News Act. Technology. giants need to be more transparent and accountable to Canadians.”
Last year Facebook threatened to block the sharing of Canadian news content unless the government amended a law forcing digital platforms to pay news publishers. We have temporarily restricted users from sharing or viewing news links on our platform. Google is currently borrowing from a company playbook owned by Meta.
It’s not the first time the company has defied Canadian law. Last year, Google expressed concern over his Bill C-11 (Online Streaming Act). The bill will allow platforms such as YouTube, which is owned by Google, to give Canadian content more prominence. Google argued that the bill would hurt creators and viewers and limit the discoverability of content. The Canadian Senate recently passed a bill with a number of amendments that will be reviewed by the House of Commons.
A few months ago, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a statement arguing that online news and streaming bills are discriminating against American businesses. The US government has also expressed concern about the trade implications of the bill.
