Why in news
The Australia Today’s coverage of S. Jaishankar’s visit was blocked on Facebook in Canada.
It’s unclear if Meta’s action was influenced by the Canadian government or part of Meta’s broader strategy to block news content under new media laws.
Canada’s Media Policy and Meta’s Response
Online News Act (ONA): Canada’s 2023 ONA forces platforms like Meta and Google to pay publishers for news content.
Meta blocked all news content in Canada from August 2023, including international outlets like The Australia Today.
Meta’s blocking around Jaishankar’s interview suggests possible selective compliance with the ONA, raising suspicions of political motivations.
Meta decides what qualifies as “news” or “community content,” impacting outlets like Baaz (Punjabi diaspora) which was temporarily blocked.
Global Geopolitical Ramifications
The blocking of news in Canada highlights how national media policies affect global news access.
Canada follows Australia, which introduced similar media legislation in 2021. Both countries aim to balance platform-publisher dynamics.
Countries like Australia, Canada, and Indonesia have different regulatory frameworks, impacting how news is shared globally.
Meta’s strategy could spread to other countries, such as the UK, South Africa, and Germany, disrupting global news flow.
India’s Position and Potential Consequences
India’s Competition Commission is investigating platforms over their handling of news content, but it has not addressed the geopolitical implications.
If Meta blocks news in more countries, Indian news outlets might lose visibility, and diplomatic or ministerial content could be censored.
There’s an urgent need for global discussions on fair compensation for news outlets to prevent selective censorship and ensure transparency.
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