Google Refuses to Pay "Link Tax" and Removes Canadian News Links from Search

Google has informed the Canadian government that it will remove links to Canadian news sources from Google Search and Google News in response to a new law requiring payments to news organizations. The law, known as the Online News Act, requires large search engines and social media services to negotiate payments with news businesses. Google argues that the law's "link tax" creates uncertainty and exposes them to financial liability. Similar bills are pending in the US, where tech industry opposition and concerns about fairness and free speech have been raised.