Google to Remove Canadian News Content from its Products

Google plans to remove Canadian news from its products in response to Canada's Online News Act

Google has said it will take Canadian news content off of Google News, Google Discover, and Google Search. The choice was made in reaction to Bill C-18, often known as the Online News Act, which mandates that online platforms compensate content creators for using their work. According to Google, the passing of Bill C-18 leaves it "deeply disappointed" because the company thinks the measure is "unworkable and unconstitutional." Additionally, the business has stated that while it is "committed to finding a solution that works for everyone," it must remove Canadian news material from its products in the interim.

Eliminating Canadian news from Google's products will significantly affect the country's news market. Google is the most popular search engine in Canada, and it's believed that more than 80% of visitors to Canadian news websites come from Google. The removal of Google's links to Canadian news websites may result in a sharp drop in traffic, endangering the financial viability of many news organizations.

The Online News Act has been defended by the Canadian government, which claims that it is required to ensure that news organizations are paid for the value of their information. The government has additionally stated that the bill would not reduce the standard of news reporting and that it is fair to both news organizations and online platforms. Google and the Canadian government are still at odds, most certainly. Although Google has stated it is "open to further discussions" with the government, whether they can agree is unclear. In the interim, the withdrawal of Canadian news from Google's products will significantly impact the Canadian news sector.