Journalists learn early that they should never become the news. This week, however, we don’t have that luxury. The Online News Act became law last week, requiring tech companies such as Google and Meta to pay media outlets for news content they share on their platforms.
In what could be described as a high-stakes game of chicken, the technology giants announced they would rather take Canadian news off their platforms entirely than pay the fees.
Canadian news will still be available directly on media websites and through subscriber newsletters, but the moves by Meta and Google to block news will have a significant impact on the dissemination of accurate information.
You’ll still be able to take in celebrity “infotainment” without too much trouble, but if you want to know which local schools face overcrowding, what the next Bank of Canada interest rate hike will mean or what people said at a public hearing, the tech giants would rather you stay in the dark.
Australia has already been through a similar showdown. In that case, a tweaked law was passed, which allowed tech companies to strike their own deals with news organizations. Such a compromise could still be a possibility here.
We don’t know what the future of journalism holds but the tech giants have made one thing clear. It will be on their terms, not those of elected governments.
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