The Trudeau government has quietly dropped its much-ballyhooed advertising boycott of Meta, imposed in retaliation for the social media company banning news on its platforms in Canada fpllowing passage of the Online News Act.
Trudeau Gov’t Backtracks on Meta Ban, Drops $100K on Facebook Ads | iPhone in Canada | Austin Blake:
February 6, 2025 - "The federal government has quietly resumed advertising on Meta’s platforms, despite the tech giant’s ongoing ban on Canadian news to adhere to the Online News Act. Ottawa is now spending up to $100,000 to promote the GST rebate on Facebook and Instagram — less than a year after pulling ads over Meta’s refusal to pay news outlets under Bill C-18, or the Online News Act, reports CTV News.
"A spokesperson for the Privy Council Office (PCO) confirmed the government deemed it 'essential' that Canadians receive credible information about government programs. Advertising for the GST tax holiday started last month on January 23.
"The decision has sparked backlash from [legacy] media organizations. News Media Canada President Paul Deegan called it a bad move, arguing taxpayer dollars should support Canadian media, not U.S. tech giants.... The Canadian Association of Broadcasters similarly slammed the government, saying there are plenty of Canadian media companies that could help the government spread its message — while also helping to keep professional journalists employed.
"Meta has been blocking the sharing of Canadian news links on Facebook and Instagram since July 2023, in response to federal legislation requiring tech giants to compensate news outlets. While the government once took a strong stance against Meta, the return to advertising suggests a softening of its position.... Canadians on Facebook are bypassing the bill by sharing screenshots of news instead. So in the end, publishers are losing money as users see their stories but don’t click through to sites for generating ad revenue....
"Back in December 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, 'We will continue to push Meta, that makes billions of dollars in profits, even though it is refusing to invest in the journalistic rigor and stability of the media.' The latest move reeks of the pot calling the kettle black it seems, according to critics."
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