Meta is refusing to publicly disclose information that could determine whether it is subject to the Online B次元官网网址 Act despite blocking news from its platforms.
It has declined to follow CRTC directions to either publicly release that information or explain in detail why it should remain confidential, a move that Heritage Minister Pascale St-OngeB次元官网网址檚 office says sends B次元官网网址渁 troubling message.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hey consider themselves above oversight in the public interest, legislation promised during elections, and even the smallest and most reasonable regulation,B次元官网网址� a spokesperson said in a statement.
Last year, the company blocked news from Facebook and Instagram in response to the Online B次元官网网址 Act. The legislation was aimed at Meta and Google and would have required Meta to compensate media outlets for displaying their content.
But users have found workarounds to continue to share news on the platforms, such as sharing screenshots of news articles and copying text of articles in their posts.
The Liberal government maintains the company could still fall under Online B次元官网网址 Act, but that would be up to the CRTC to determine.
The regulator, which operates at armsB次元官网网址� length from government, is in charge of implementing the legislation. Last month, it granted Google an exemption from the act under an agreement that will see Google pay out $100 million to Canadian news outlets.
In early October, the CRTC wrote to Meta, telling the company it B次元官网网址渉as been made aware of reports that news content from Canadian news outlets continues to be available on MetaB次元官网网址檚 platforms in Canada.B次元官网网址�
It asked Meta what measures itB次元官网网址檚 taking to comply with the Online B次元官网网址 Act, and if news is being made available on its platforms.
After the company filed a confidential response, the CRTC told Meta that under its rules, Meta must provide a detailed explanation of why that information should be kept confidential, B次元官网网址渋ncluding why the specific direct harm that would be likely to result from the disclosure would outweigh the public interest in its disclosure.B次元官网网址�
The CRTC also told Meta it was required to file an abridged version of the document that doesnB次元官网网址檛 include the confidential information.
Meta declined to do so in an Oct. 28 response from its public policy director Dan Ball. It said the letter includes specific measures the company uses to remove access to news content, which it has not made public.
B次元官网网址淚t is in the public interest to maintain this information as confidential so users cannot use it to avoid detection of news that Meta would otherwise remove, thereby undermining the Act rather than ensuring compliance with it.B次元官网网址�
It said that B次元官网网址渢he entirety of the Letter contains confidential information relating to the sensitive commercial process that Meta undertakes to ensure compliance.B次元官网网址�
On Nov. 7, the CRTC told Meta that response wasnB次元官网网址檛 good enough.
It said Meta didnB次元官网网址檛 adequately justify why the letter should be kept confidential under the Online B次元官网网址 Act. The CRTC said generic statements about harm to a company arenB次元官网网址檛 sufficient, and that Meta hasnB次元官网网址檛 justified B次元官网网址渉ow any specific, direct harm to Meta would outweigh the public interest.B次元官网网址�
It said the information in the letter B次元官网网址渃ould allow for informed public comment on MetaB次元官网网址檚 practices and whether these practices implicate the Act, which would strongly serve the public interest.B次元官网网址�
It told Meta to make the letter public. Otherwise, it said, Meta could reply and the CRTC would then determine whether disclosure is in the public interest.
Ball did reply with on Nov. 12, stating only that B次元官网网址渢he details about the company in our prior response contain confidential information, the justifications for which are in our prior correspondence.B次元官网网址�
The CRTC now says it is assessing how to respond. Asked whether the CRTC will make the information public, a spokesperson said it is B次元官网网址渃urrently determining next steps, including dealing with confidentiality.B次元官网网址�
Meta declined to comment, with a spokesperson pointing to its Nov. 12 response to the CRTC.
