Trudeau gov't quietly drops its Meta ad boycott

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."

Read more: https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2025/02/06/trudeau-govt-backtracks-on-meta-ban-drops-100k-on-facebook-ads/

Facebook & Instagram blocking news in Canada

Following final passage of the Trudeau government's Online News Act (Bill C-18), Meta has begun blocking news content on Facebook and Instagram in Canada.

Facebook turning off news in Canada as latest media bailout awaits Royal Assent | Western Standard | Shaun Polczer:

June 22, 2023 - "The standoff between Ottawa and Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg deepened Thursday after Bill C-18 — the ‘online news act’ — cleared the Senate and prompted Meta to begin blocking news content on Facebook and Instagram. The bill, which is now awaiting Royal Assent, will require outlets that post news content — such as Facebook and Twitter — to pay for it.

"Reaction from Meta, Facebook’s parent company, was quick and came mere minutes after the bill’s passage was announced.

“Today, we are confirming that news availability will be ended on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada prior to the Online News Act (Bill C-18) taking effect,” it said in a statement. 'We have repeatedly shared that in order to comply with Bill C-18, passed today in Parliament, content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will no longer be available to people accessing our platforms in Canada'....

"News outlets will continue to have access to their accounts and pages, and will be able to post news links and content; however, some content will not be viewable in Canada, it added.

"The company went on to say 'the Online News Act is fundamentally flawed legislation that ignores the realities of how our platforms work, the preferences of the people who use them, and the value we provide news publishers. As the minister of Canadian Heritage said, how we choose to comply with the legislation is a business decision we must make, and we have made our choice.' It’s not clear if Google will follow suit.

“'Not content with taking hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars, Big Media has colluded with the federal government again to steal more money that they didn’t earn,' said Western Standard Publisher Derek Fildebrandt. 'The consequences — Facebook turning off the news — have been known for more than a year, but they did it anyway because they know that the biggest losers in this would be the upstart independent media that have been eating their lunch. These people — the federal government and Big Media — are criminals who have consciously conspired to either steal more money, or kill off their competitors using the power of the state.'

"Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez was reportedly holding last-minute talks with Google Thursday afternoon, the minister’s office and a Google source confirmed to the National Post. In an emailed statement to the National Post, Rodriguez said: 'Facebook knows very well that they have no obligations under the act right now. Following Royal Assent of Bill C-18, the Government will engage in a regulatory and implementation process. If the Government can’t stand up for Canadians against tech giants, who will?'

"During a Senate committee hearing earlier this month, Rodriguez threatened unspecified 'options' for retaliation if the companies followed through.... Google spokesperson Shay Purdy replied the company is 'doing everything we can to avoid an outcome that no-one wants.'

"During testimony before the Senate Transportation and Communications committee in Ottawa this month, Fildebrandt asked for the bill to be 'opt-in” so news organizations such as the Western Standard do not lose the traffic they receive from those platforms if the Big Tech companies decide to block Canadian news.... The amendment was included in the final version of the bill passed by the Senate on June 16. At the time Sen. Leo Housakos (QC) mentioned the Western Standard as an example of successful media companies thriving in the 'current news media landscape'.... 'We had witnesses that came before the committee, including print associations that represent journalists in this country that say thanks to Meta, their traffic is up as much as 31% to 33%,' said Housakos."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/business/facebook-turning-off-news-in-canada-as-latest-media-bailout-awaits-royal-assent/article_d92c378e-1138-11ee-b79b-7bfe5ffd29d1.html

Facebook threatens to withhold news content in Canada | CTV National News | March 13, 2023: