More entities withdraw Meta advertising
By Derek Winkler
Additional entities including the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, Torstar, CBC/Radio-Canada, Cogeco and Unifor have suspended their advertising on social media properties owned by Meta. These properties include Facebook and Instagram. In each case, the withdrawal of advertising is stated to be in protest of Meta’s plan to remove Canadian news content from these properties. Meta came to this decision in protest of the passage of the Online News Act, which requires online properties to compensate Canadian media companies for the use of their content.
“It is critical that we ensure all Canadians have full access to trusted, reliable news and journalism,” said Neil Oliver, CEO of Torstar. “By its action, Meta will be deliberately closing one of the main ways that Canadians currently access news. Such access is critical for the long-term health of our democracy. We vigorously object to Meta's unprecedented plans to block our content on its platforms in protest against the federal government's Online News Act. We also encourage other Canadian media outlets, advertisers and governments to make clear their opposition to Meta's intention to cut Canadians off from essential information and trusted news in a time when we need to be standing up for democracy.”