OTTAWA - Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez introduced a bill today to make digital giants compensate Canadian media outlets for reusing their news content.
The bill, designed to support Canada's independent media, is modelled on an Australian law making tech companies such as Google and Meta pay for news content on their platforms.
A free and independent press is essential to Canada’s democracy. We’re asking tech giants to fairly compensate publishers and journalists for their work and to contribute to the sustainability of local, independent news in Canada. #cdnpoli #C18 pic.twitter.com/7OeMK1N6Sx
— Pablo Rodriguez (@pablorodriguez) April 5, 2022
The law will set up a process for digital platforms to privately negotiate deals with newspapers, magazines and digital news groups, as well as broadcasters that publish news online.
News organizations will be able to team up to bargain collectively with digital giants.
If they cannot reach a deal, the tech platforms will be forced into mediation and arbitration with news outlets.
Digital platforms that fail to comply with the new law could face financial penalties.
