Access to Reliable News is Crucial and Innovation Will Play a Key Role
The Online News Act and Its Impact
The Online News Act was implemented by the Canadian government in June 2023 in an effort to support journalism in the digital age. The act was needed due to the decline of traditional media revenues and the increasing influence of tech giants over content distribution. The act requires tech giants like Meta and Google to compensate publishers for use of their content. This is especially beneficial for local and independent media outlets, which have faced increasing challenges due to shrinking revenues. The Act aims to create a sustainable environment for journalism, helping to preserve a diverse range of voices and maintain public access to high-quality, fact-based information.
Meta’s Response: Blocking Canadian News
Rather than comply with the Act, in August 2023, Meta began blocking all Canadian news content on their Facebook and Instagram platforms. Meta argued that the legislation imposed an untenable financial and operational burden, stating that the requirement to compensate publishers for shared content was not sustainable for their business model. For publishers, the loss of visibility on Facebook and Instagram is a real concern. Social media has become a critical channel for reaching audiences, and this block means a significant hit to traffic and reach. Even more worrying is the potential impact during emergencies when people rely on these platforms for timely information.
Unlike Meta, Google chose to work with publishers to establish fair compensation models that aligned with the requirements of the Act. This involved negotiating licensing deals that ensured publishers would be paid for their content being indexed and linked on Google services. These actions help to foster a collaborative relationship with news providers and ensure that Canadian users can continue to access reliable and diverse news sources through Google platforms.
Workarounds and Domain Masking Tools
Canadians have found ways around the Meta ban, sharing screenshots or using alternative platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and emerging community-driven networks like Mastodon. These platforms have become popular options for sharing and accessing Canadian news without the restrictions imposed by Meta. Many publishers are encouraging readers to visit their websites directly or sign up for newsletters.
Digital activists have created clever workarounds. One approach has been to create websites that mask the news domain blocked by Meta. A user can insert a news link and the website transforms it to use its domain. When a user shares the transformed link on Meta platforms, viewers are redirected by the website to the original news site. Unfortunately, Meta has added these websites to its blocked domain list, ending their usefulness.
On my website, johnmiedema.art, I provide a tool that takes a different approach, masking the news domain with a major search engine. A user inserts a link and the website transforms it into a Bing search page link that returns just one result. The link can be pasted on Facebook or Instagram, and viewers can click the result to the original news site. It does not matter if Meta blocked my site, it will never block Bing or my backup site on GitHub.
Using a search engine as a mask is an effective and permanent workaround to the Meta block, but there are limitations. When users share the transformed link on Meta, viewers do not see the news story pictures until they click the search result. Also, Bing is sometimes slow to index news from small publisher websites. Publishers can modify their website for quicker indexing. Google indexes pages more quickly, so I added a new option to use Google as a mask.
The Ongoing Tug-of-War for News Access
It’s an ongoing tug-of-war, but these efforts to control news access have only made it clearer how much we need alternative solutions. The reality is, we need to adapt. Whether it’s through creative workarounds, direct engagement with news publishers, or tools like the one on my website, it’s clear that Canadian news will find a way to reach its audience. The conversation about how we sustain and support quality journalism is far from over. Maintaining access to reliable news is crucial for an informed public, and innovation will play a key role in ensuring that access remains open.
Last Updated on May 15, 2025 | Published: October 27, 2024