National

MPs summon Google CEO to testify on blocking news

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Feb, 2023 10:47 AM

OTTAWA - The CEO of Google and other top executives are being summoned to appear before a parliamentary committee over the tech company's move to temporarily block some Canadians from accessing news through its search engine.

They are expected to testify at a meeting of the House of Commons heritage committee on Monday over Google's choice to temporary limit news to some Canadians, in which the company says is a short-lived test in response to the Liberal government's proposed Online News Act.

Bill C-18 would require digital giants such as Google to negotiate deals that would compensate Canadian media companies for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online.

The committee is also requesting documents related to the decision by Google, which confirmed to The Canadian Press last week it is limiting access to news on its search engine to less than four per cent of its users in Canada.

The summons applies to CEO Sundar Pichai, as well as Kent Walker, president of global affairs, Richard Gingras, vice-president of news, and Sabrina Geremia, vice president and country manager for Google in Canada.

The House of Commons doesn't have the power to summon individuals who live outside of Canada, but members of Parliament who serve on the committee want to take the chance.

Should the four individuals not show up, the House of Commons can enforce the summons if they ever step foot in Canada.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Police search for up to 15 youth in TTC assault

Toronto police say officers responded to an area in the city's east end Monday afternoon where a group of 10 to 15 youths, all male, allegedly assaulted two TTC employees. Police described the injuries as minor, noting the initial report noted no obvious signs of injury.

Police search for up to 15 youth in TTC assault

Fiscal room tightening as economy teeters

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said affordability and making Canada competitive were his priorities heading into this cabinet meeting. Ottawa is insisting on accountability for any new health funding and Trudeau has not publicly committed to meet the premiers' demands.

Fiscal room tightening as economy teeters

Man in distress pours milk on his face in a grocery store, turns out he had been victim of an assault

On January 17th at approximately 5:50 pm the New Westminster Police were called to the 800 block of Carnarvon Street to assist a man in distress who was pouring milk on his face inside a grocery store. Officers learned that the man was the victim of an assault and moments earlier he had been assaulted with bear spray in an attempted robbery.

Man in distress pours milk on his face in a grocery store, turns out he had been victim of an assault

Trudeau mum on sending tanks to Ukraine

Nearly a year after Russia's invasion, most members of the NATO military alliance have said they're in favour of giving Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, but Germany has not. As a major supplier of the tanks, Germany requires that allies seek permission before re-exporting them to other countries, and Berlin has warned against provoking Russia.

Trudeau mum on sending tanks to Ukraine

Parks Canada announces upgrades in mountain parks

The $71 million in federal funding for Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay national parks includes upgrades to critical infrastructure, such as Parks Canada dispatch for emergency calls, as well as to several roadways and bridges. It also includes improvements in the community of Lake Louise, Alta.

Parks Canada announces upgrades in mountain parks

Inquest into suicide of VPD officer begins

Jennifer Chan told the inquest she believed her sister's mental health problems stemmed from sexual assault and extortion by her co-worker, culminating in her death by suicide in January 2019.