Ottawa May Regulate Meta’s New Platform ‘Threads’ Under Online News Act: Heritage Minister

Minister Pablo Rodriguez rises during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 28, 2023. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodrigeuz said on July 12 that he is open to regulating Meta’s new social media platform “Threads” under the Online News Act, which requires tech giants to pay Canadian media outlets for news content linked on their platforms.

“That’s eventually going to be included in the regulation,” Mr. Rodriguez said on July 12 when asked by reporters whether he had thought about capturing the new social network in the Online News Act, formerly known as Bill C-18.

“It could be captured by the bill. We’re looking at that. We don’t know yet, but it’s going to be more precise as we go into regulations,” he said.

Threads has garnered more than 100 million users since it launched on July 6. Its launch comes amid tension between the Canadian government and tech giants Google and Meta over Bill C-18, which requires the companies to negotiate deals with and pay Canadian media for the content they link to on their platforms.

On June 29, Google announced it would be removing links to Canadian news from its “Search, News, and Discover products,” saying Bill C-18 remained “unworkable.” The company said the Liberal government had failed to give assurances that the regulatory process would be able to resolve structural issues in its legislation.

On June 22, Meta also said that Canadians would lose access to news on its social media sites due to the Online News Act.

In response, the federal government pulled its $10 million in annual advertising spend from Meta’s platforms Facebook and Instagram. Canadian news and telecommunications businesses Quebecor, Bell Media, Torstar Corp., Cogeco, and Postmedia Network Canada Corp followed suit shortly after.

‘Very Disappointed’

The Heritage minister did not specify what the digital giants must pay, or how many organizations they would need to make deals with under Bill C-18. Mr. Rodriguez said the country’s public broadcaster, CBC, could be given some money through the bill, but it would be up to Google and Meta to decide who they strike deals with.

Mr. Rodriguez added he is “very disappointed” by Meta’s “irresponsible” stance on Bill C-18, but said he was more pleased with Google, which has remained in discussions with the Canadian government about the potential regulations of tech companies.

“Google decided to stay at the table and keep discussing with us. Meta took the bully approach and decided not to discuss with us anymore,'' Mr. Rodriquez said, adding the government hoped to have an update from Google this week.

Mr. Rodriguez said he remains open to meeting with Meta to work out a deal.

“We don’t want confrontation ... We’re not acting the same way, we’re saying, ‘guys, come [to] the table,’” he said.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.