Imagine Government Censorship Stamping On a Human Face Forever

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The CRTC will regulate “all programming” including internet video under a cabinet bill, says the CEO of the Commission. Ian Scott told the Commons heritage committee a longstanding hands-off treatment of the internet “has changed.”

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Facebook’s Canadian head of public policy defended the company’s decision to cut off news and public health agencies in Australia, and didn’t rule out taking a similar measure here.

The company prevented users in Australia from sharing news articles on Facebook in February, after the country passed new legislation requiring web giants like Facebook and Google to compensate publishers for those links.

Kevin Chan, Facebook’s head of public policy in Canada, said Australia’s model was simply unworkable.

“Unfortunately, the proposed legislation did not acknowledge basic facts about the internet, did not recognize the value that platforms provide to news publishers, stood to benefit only large media conglomerates and not independent media outlets,” he told MPs at the House of Commons Heritage Committee.

The Australian ban lasted for only a few days before the company reached an agreement with the government. It has since signed several deals with news publishers in the country.

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Liberal MP Julie Dabrusin questioned the company’s tactics in the Australian dispute, noting the change came during a crisis when reliable public information is essential.

“Do you think it’s an appropriate negotiation strategy with a government to cut access to the news, including public health news, during what is a pandemic?” she asked.

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Chan said the company didn’t want to take such a step, but also didn’t rule out similar measures if Canada adopts similar laws.

“It is never going to be something that we would ever want to do, unless we really have no choice,” he said.

Liberal Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has yet to unveil new legislation targeting Facebook and other web giants, but has insisted a bill is coming soon that would force companies to pay news publishers for their content. He has said he is looking at Australia’s approach as well as France’s effort, which forced the internet giants to sit down with publishers and reach agreements.