Aimthe information technology giant, caused a stir by announcing an extreme measure in response to the recent legislation in Canada. The law in question, said Online News Act or Bill C-18forces tech companies to pay local media for the content they use.

Meta in Canada: a future without news

As part of this new regulation, Meta has chosen to discontinue access to the information on their platforms Facebook and Instagram in Canada. The company is in the midst of a series of product tests to “finalize news availability in Canada” following Parliament’s decision.

This drastic action aims to comply with the new provisions of the law, although it has sparked a lively controversy.

The shadow of the Australian experience

This is not the first time that Meta has adopted measures of this nature. In 2022, the company blocked news content on Facebook by Australia in response to a similar law. However, after a week, he struck a deal with the Australian government, changing the law to give tech companies two months to negotiate with the media.

These situations highlight the existing tension between tech giants and governments seeking to regulate their influence.

A Glimpse of the Future: California

meanwhile at California, progress is underway on a bill that would impose similar requirements on digital platforms. If approved, Meta said it will follow the same strategy as in Canada and Australia, removing news from Facebook and Instagram.

The fight for fairness in the distribution of revenues generated by digital content is far from over. These types of situations reveal the complex relationship between governments, tech companies and the media. Ultimately, the decisions that will be made will have a direct impact on how we get our information and who we pass it on to.

More information in cnbc.com.