Facebook won't rule out blocking news in Canada if there was 'really no choice'

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When the Australian government passed a bill to force Google and Facebook to pay publishers for the news it surfaces on the platform, the latter tried to play hardball initially and took out all news content in the app for its Australian users. The company and the government have since worked out an agreement. But with the Canadian government thinking about passing similar legislation, we might see the same thing happening here.

Facebook Canada's head of policy, Kevin Chan, spoke before a parliamentary committee on Monday saying that if a law forces Facebook to pay publishers each time their news content is shared on the social network, it "fundamentally breaks the premise of how a free and open internet works."

Chan neither endorsed nor ruled out the possibility when he was grilled about whether he thought it was an acceptable negotiating tactic. "It is never going to be something that we would ever want to do, unless we really have no choice," he said.

Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, who oversees media and communications in Canada, pledged last month to bring a similar bill to parliament, insisting that it was coming soon. He said he was looking at Australia's and France's approaches to this issue.

Facebook's recent Journalism Project pledge of $8 million was also brought up during the hearing. Canada.com mentioned conservative MP Kevin Waugh said the timing of the announcement felt off to him.

"I'm a little cynical about it, you knew you're coming to this committee on Monday, and then all of a sudden you're bringing out another $8 million to support your news fellowship," he said.

Chan said the company is working with newspapers to grow their audiences and plans to finish commercial deals with publishers. And while it is interested in many potential proposals, Chan said Facebook couldn't agree on compensating publishers when posting links on the platform.

He defends how many publishers welcome the opportunity to post stories on Facebook to reach wider audiences.

"The reality is if you speak to some of the local news publishers, they'll tell you that in fact they are benefiting from being able to share freely."

Via: CNET