Publishers in Canada urge regulator to prevent Meta from restricting news access

The group sees the decision as a violation of the Canada’s Competition Act

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A coalition of Canadian news publishers and broadcasters, including News Media Canada, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and CBC/Radio‐Canada, has urged the country's competition regulator to intervene in Meta's decision to block access to news content on Facebook and Instagram for Canadian users.

The coalition asserts that Meta's action is considered "anticompetitive conduct" and violates a provision of the federal law (section 79 of the Canada’s Competition Act to be exact). The move follows the passage of Canada's Online News Act, aimed at boosting revenue for Canadian journalism outlets by mandating compensation from companies like Meta and Google's parent company, Alphabet, for hosting and linking to their content.

79 (1) If, on application by the Commissioner or a person granted leave under section 103.1, the Tribunal finds that

(a) one or more persons substantially or completely control, throughout Canada or any area thereof, a class or species of business,

(b) that person or those persons have engaged in or are engaging in a practice of anti-competitive acts, and

(c) the practice has had, is having or is likely to have the effect of preventing or lessening competition substantially in a market,

the Tribunal may make an order prohibiting all or any of those persons from engaging in that practice.

Meta, in response, has strongly opposed the law, labeling it "unworkable" and announcing its decision to block news content access for Canadian users.

The coalition of publishers argues that Meta's action could lead to the proliferation of fake news and disinformation.