Google has announced its decision to block its news search products in Canada, following the enactment of Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act. This legislation was introduced to compel U.S. digital tech giants to pay local publishers for news content shared or repurposed on their platforms. In response to the new law, Google has stated that it will remove links to Canadian news from its Search, News, and Discover products and discontinue operating Google News Showcase in Canada. This move comes after Meta (formerly Facebook) made a similar decision to block news content on its platforms in Canada.
Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Google and Alphabet, expressed disappointment with the situation and emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency. Google had previously conducted a temporary test blocking news content for specific Canadian audiences, which has now been expanded to include all Google news search products in Canada.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the country’s TV and telecom regulator, will oversee the implementation of the Online News Act and facilitate negotiations, potentially including final-offer arbitration, between Google, Meta, and Canadian news publishers.
The decision by both Google and Meta to withdraw their news search products in Canada is viewed as a negotiating tactic as they seek to reach commercial agreements with the CRTC or pursue separate deals through direct negotiations with the Canadian government.
Google has expressed its intention to engage in the regulatory process and maintain transparency with Canadians and publishers throughout the proceedings. The company hopes for a viable path forward and draws attention to the precedent set by Australia, where Meta initially blocked news content before establishing a fund to compensate local publishers.
