Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's government has begun to push two bills intended to regulate tech from around the world. These laws could potentially shake the very core of our democracy and the freedom of the internet, and cause countless Canadian online businesses to fail.
First up:
Bill C-18, or the 'Online News Act', requires the tech giants to cough up cash to show links to Canadian news. Google argues that it’s not fair to risk “uncapped financial liability” just for giving Canadians access to news from local publishers.
Google’s solution? Once Bill C-18 kicks in, it'll remove all Canadian links from its Search, News, and Discover services. And Meta (the artist formerly known as Facebook) will follow suit, killing off news content on Facebook and Instagram for users in Canada. Looks like Trudeau's government might've shot itself in the foot with this one.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez says that tech giants need to pay their “fair share” for news.
Seems like they’re missing the point. The digital ecosystem is a complex beast, and platforms like Google and Meta often drive huge traffic (and therefore ad revenue) to these news sites. It feels like the administration has it all wrong – instead of helping, they're hurting the very people they’re trying to protect.
The next bill:
Bill C-11, the 'Online Streaming Act', shows yet another clumsy attempt by Trudeau's government to control digital content. It demands that streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, and Spotify must “prominently promote and recommend Canadian programming,” in all official and Indigenous languages.
This puts American companies in a spot, forcing them to pick up the slack for Canadian media's unpopularity, while also having to meet diversity, equity, and inclusion targets that even the Trudeau government isn't hitting. It's a little unsettling that the government seems to think that merely talking about virtues equates to having them.
But these laws aren't about saving Canadian news, they're about controlling it. Bill C-11 lets the government regulate content across the board - TV, radio, websites, and streaming platforms. And just look at the numbers: between 2020 and 2023, federal staff requested content removal over 200 times. If that doesn't scream 'control', I don't know what does.
Most people don't head straight to news websites. They click links shared by friends, find stories through Google searches, or stumble across catchy headlines on Instagram or Facebook. These platforms direct users to lesser-known local news outlets, providing priceless visibility.
Between 2021 and 2022, Facebook reportedly drove more than 1.9 billion clicks to Canadian publishers – that's about $230M worth of free marketing. Sure, Facebook profits from this setup, but that doesn’t mean it should be targeted for extra payouts.
Trudeau and his team often complain about the loss of “independent, nonpartisan newsrooms,” blaming big tech for it. Yet, these same politicians are very active on social media, and if nonpartisan news publishes fair criticism of Trudeau, he'll label is biased with disputing any of the claims made.
Has the response caused Trudeau to rethink his strategy?
Surprisingly, not at all. His government remains stubborn, even stopping ads on Facebook rather than seeking a compromise. Trudeau needs to reevaluate his game plan. Rather than shunning big tech, he should be working towards a balanced regulatory framework that protects the internet's freedom while encouraging economic growth and innovation.
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Author: Alex Benningram
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom
