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It's all in reaction to the government's Bill C-18, designed to force giants like Google and Meta to pay for links to Canadian news sources. John Moore confirmed on Monday morning that the news posts on CFRB are being blocked on both Facebook and Meta for many, which means Canadians who access their information on those platforms won't see them.
It's part of an ongoing campaign by the tech giants to express their displeasure over the law, which is designed to help struggling news media outlets. While most experts acknowledge the need to aid the news sources, many have questioned the methods being employed to force the funds. Most believe an agreement will eventually be worked out. The question is what that will look like - and how long it will take.
Even The Star is feeling the effects, with an unblocked article from their editor on the front page of its site, advising readers how to find them through alternate sources.
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Some media around here are speaking out about C-18 online, including myFM/MBC, who have great big such things on their websites' main pages, while the local Metroland freebies, the Renfrew Mercury and Arnprior Chronicle-Guide, just now changed their Facebook pages' cover images to the following white text on a blue background "Facebook plans to block Canadian news".
Last edited by Forward Power (July 17, 2023 12:50 pm)