(Ottawa) Two news organizations and the Société Radio-Canada (SRC) are asking Canada’s Competition Bureau to prohibit Meta from blocking access to news on its platforms in Canada, a practice they qualify as abuse of a dominant position.
In their request for an investigation, News Media Canada, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and the Crown corporation claim that Meta’s practices are clearly designed to suppress Canadian news organizations, prevent them from participating and accessing to the advertising market, and significantly reduce their visibility with Canadians on social media.
In their view, Meta’s behavior, which they call anti-competitive, will strengthen its already dominant position in advertising and social media and harm Canadian journalism.
Through Facebook and Instagram, Meta wields significant control over access to Canadian news, according to the plaintiffs.
They also hope that Meta will be compelled to refrain from discriminating against or penalizing, algorithmically or otherwise, the content of Canadian news organizations on its accessible digital platforms in Canada.
In their view, Meta’s conduct will also diminish internet traffic to news content from Canadian media, undermining their ability to generate revenue through online advertising, or from their readers.
The mandate of the Competition Bureau, an independent agency, is to protect and promote competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses.
