Meta will begin tests on Facebook and Instagram to limit some users and publishers from viewing or sharing news content in Canada because of Bill C-18..Randomized tests will help Meta build an effective solution to end news availability in Canada as defined by Bill C-18, according to a Thursday press release. Throughout the testing period lasting several weeks, the release said a small percentage of people who are enrolled in testing will be notified if they attempt to share news content. .Bill C-18 will require platforms such as Facebook and Google to compensate publishers for republishing their content..The release said product tests will affect news outlets within and outside of Canada. .Meta is identifying news outlets on its platforms based on the current language of Bill C-18. It states news outlets are in scope if they primarily report on, investigate, or explain current issues or events of public interest. .The release acknowledged news outlets will continue to have access to their accounts and pages and will be able to post news links and content, but some will be unavailable in Canada. It said people enrolled in testing will have access to a review process if they believe they do not fall within the intended scope of the bill. .Meta said multiple times it is flawed and ignores the realities of how platforms work, the preferences of the people who use them, and the value they provide publishers. Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said how platforms choose to comply with it is a business decision they must make, and it has made its choice. .While the product tests are temporary, the release said it intends to end the availability of news content in Canada if Bill C-18 passes. .Independent Senators Group Sen. Paula Simons (Alberta) said in February Bill C-18 will not improve Canadian journalism because it jeopardizes media's independence..READ MORE: WATCH: Paula Simons warns Bill C-18 will not solve Canada’s journalism crisis.“But the idea that we can and should force two American tech giants to underwrite the independent news upon which Canadians rely is a logical and ethical fallacy,” said Simons. .“The bill seems premised on a core proposition the reason print media outlets have lost their revenues is Google and Facebook are somehow stealing their news stories and then monetizing them to sell ads.” .Google blocked some Canadian users from viewing news content as a test run for Bill C-18 in February. .READ MORE: Google to block some Canadians from seeing online news over Bill C-18."We're briefly testing potential product responses to Bill C-18 that impact a very small percentage of Canadian users," said Google spokesperson Shay Purdy. .Google said it will temporarily limit access to news content for under 4% of its Canadian users while it assesses possible responses to the bill. The change applies to its search engine and the Discover feature on Android devices, which carries news and sports stories.
