Meta Will Remove News Content From Facebook and Instagram in Canada

Meta is planning to remove access to news on Facebook and Instagram in Canada. This announcement comes in reaction to the country’s recent approval of the Online News Act (also known as Bill C-18), which will require Meta and Google to pay news publishers to display their content.

The company previously announced on June 1 that in preparation for the Online News Act to pass into law, it would test removing access to news on Facebook and Instagram in Canada. Meta also said at the time that the Online News Act was a “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 of today, Meta is still running tests to remove news availability on its two platforms for a subset of users. With the current solution, users who are enrolled in testing are also unable to share news content on Facebook and Instagram.

“The changes affecting news content will not otherwise impact Meta’s products and services in Canada. We want to assure the millions of Canadians on our platforms that they will always be able to connect with friends and family, grow their businesses and support their local communities,” Meta said yesterday.

Despite Meta getting ready to end news availability in Canada, the company says that it will pursue its efforts to combat misinformation on its two platforms. “Fact-checking will continue with respect to content that remains available in Canada,” the company said.