Canada's Ongoing Battle with Tech Giants over Online News Law

Canada has released draft rules for a law that would require internet giants like Google and Facebook to pay news outlets, aiming to address concerns raised by the tech companies. However, Facebook remains unconvinced and plans to continue blocking news in the country. The draft regulations propose that companies negotiate voluntary deals with news publishers and pay a portion of their global revenues. If companies fail to meet a payments threshold, mandatory bargaining overseen by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) may be required. The draft rules also emphasize the inclusion of independent local, Indigenous, and official language minority community news businesses in any agreements reached by Google and Facebook.