In Quebec, the resistance is organizing to fight against Meta’s decision to block news on Instagram And Facebook. This was taken in response to a new law aimed at ensuring that platforms fairly compensate press publishers for the distribution of their content.
Despite Justin Trudeau’s intervention to force the Silicon Valley giant to bend, the latter is sticking to its positions: residents of Canada can no longer consult or share news content on Facebook and Instagram. “ An economic blackmail operation », estimate Quebec journalists.
A day without Meta on September 15, 2023
In a press release, the Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec (FPJQ) and the Quebec Society of Public Relations Professionals (SQPRP), supported by “ many actors in Quebec society », call for a day of action on September 15 against Meta. This date was not chosen at random, since it will also be the International Day of Democracy.
“ We would like to remind you that Web giants like Meta and Alphabet [société mère de Google] now monopolize 80% of digital advertising revenues in Canada while traditional media revenues disappear », Indicates the FPJQ.
The public will be invited not to share anything on the Facebook and Instagram platforms, and to subscribe to a Quebec media outlet or to the newsletter of a local media outlet. “ Such a gesture will send a strong message: Quebec will not be intimidated and will continue to support local journalists and media. », continues the federation.
Meta now favors short videos rather than press articles
According to the federal Department of Canadian Heritage, Meta would have to pay $62 million annually to the country’s media outlets if it complied with the Online News Act. Its global revenues totaled $116.6 billion in 2022, with net profit of $23.2 billion.
This is not the first time that the company has behaved this way. In 2021, the company temporarily pulled news from Facebook in Australia, after a similar dispute over media compensation. More recently, it announced the end of the “News” tab in three European countries, including France. Obviously, the social media giant prefers to focus on the short video format, largely democratized by TikTok and undoubtedly more profitable…
Source : Globe Newswire
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