Ottawa and Meta remain in talks to restore news to Facebook and Instagram

Canada says it is open to a deal to bring news back to Meta's platforms after Meta removed news in response to the 2023 Online News Act.

Canada says it remains open to a deal to bring news back to Meta's platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Meta removed news from those services after the 2023 Online News Act, which requires platforms to compensate news publishers. The U.S. has identified the legislation as a trade irritant ahead of a trade review. The federal government says regular discussions with platforms have been ongoing since the law was developed. Key details: - Meta removed news from Facebook and Instagram in Canada in response to the 2023 Online News Act. - Culture Minister Marc Miller's office said discussions with Meta are ongoing and described Canada's "door" as open to talks. - U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer raised concerns about the Online Streaming Act and Online News Act during a trade review process. - News outlets are receiving payments from a $100-million Google fund while Meta's ban remains in place. - The CRTC ordered large foreign streaming companies to contribute five per cent of annual Canadian revenues to Canadian content funds; some streamers have challenged that order and a court paused payments in late 2024. - NDP MP Gord Johns said the government must find a solution, citing closures of small newspapers and concentration of digital ad revenue. Summary: The discussions could affect whether news returns to Meta's services and intersect with wider trade and broadcasting policy changes in Canada. Undetermined at this time.