Canada’s Online News Act was met with outrage from the tech companies when it was passed this summer, while many media groups hailed it as a positive step towards market fairness. Google had labelled the bill “unworkable” adding: “This unprecedented decision to put a price on links breaks the way the web and search engines work.” Google had vowed to remove links to news in Canada in response to the Online News Act, due to take effect on 19 December. Social media giant Meta is already blocking news on its platforms as a result of the law. Google has reached a deal with Canada to avert a news blockade over a law that forces tech giants to pay for news content. Is regulating technology companies bad for the economy ?
