Meta to Test Limiting Viewing, Sharing News Content on Facebook and Instagram in Canada

The test comes in response to Canada's proposed "Online News Act," which asks big tech to pay news publishers for their content.

By Reuters | Updated: 2 June 2023 13:15 IST

Meta to Test Limiting Viewing, Sharing News Content on Facebook and Instagram in Canada

Photo Credit: Reuters

Meta's test comes in response to Canada's proposed "Online News Act"

Highlights

Meta earlier warned to end the availability of news content for Canadians
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez introduced the bill last year
Google rolled out similar tests earlier this year

Meta Platforms on Thursday said it will begin tests on its social media websites Facebook and Instagram that will limit some users and publishers from viewing or sharing some news content in Canada.

The testing period will run for several weeks, the social media giant said, adding that a minor percentage of Canadian users enrolled in testing will be notified if they attempt to share news content.

The test comes in response to Canada's proposed "Online News Act". Introduced in April last year, the legislation would force platforms like Meta and Google parent Alphabet to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content.

Samsung Wins Patent for a Tri-Fold Smartphone With Specialised Barrier Layer for Improved Durability

Meta had, in March, warned it would end the availability of news content for Canadians on its platforms if the proposed bill was passed in its current form.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill last year, called the tests "unacceptable".

"When a big tech company... tells us, 'If you don't do this or that, then I'm pulling the plug' – that's a threat. I've never done anything because I was afraid of a threat," Rodriguez told Reuters.

Google Invests in Bengaluru-Based Space Tech Startup Pixxel: Details

Google rolled out similar tests earlier this year blocking news content for some Canadian users as a test run for a potential response to the online news bill.

OnePlus Pad Review: Best Mid-Range Android Tablet?

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G was recently launched by the company in India alongside the more expensive Galaxy A54 5G smartphone. How does this phone fare against the Nothing Phone 1 and the iQoo Neo 7? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.