Canada, Google reach deal a ‘historic’ deal to support media

Heads off threat by digital giant to block news on its platform in response to Online News Act, due to come into force on December 19.

Sources said the two sides agreed on a framework that would establish regular payments by Google to help Canadian media. Picture: AFP

The Canadian government and Google announced overnight on Wednesday a “historic” deal to support the country’s media, heading off a threat by the digital giant to block news on its platform.

That threat was made in response to Ottawa’s Online News Act, wdue to come into force on December 19.

Meta has also pushed back against the looming regulations.

“For more than a decade, news organisations have been disrupted by the arrival of large digital platforms like Google. In Canada, nearly 500 media outlets have closed their doors and thousands of journalists have lost their jobs,” Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said. “Today, I’m announcing that we have found a path forward with Google” to implement the Online News Act, she said.

“This is a historic development. It will establish a fairer commercial relationship between digital platforms and journalism in Canada.”

Sources earlier told AFP the two sides agreed on a framework that would establish regular payments by Google to help Canadian media.

Ms St-Onge said it would see Canadian news continue to be shared on Google’s platforms in return for the company making annual payments to Canadian news companies in the range of $C100m, an amount less than the government had estimated.

AFP