Toronto Star owner pausing ads on Facebook, Instagram over Meta’s vows to block news
Global News
"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."
The company that owns the Toronto Star is joining other Canadian media companies in pausing all advertising on Facebook and Instagram.
The immediate pause is in response to Meta’s plan to block access to content from Canadian news outlets on its platforms, Torstar Corp. said in a press release Thursday evening.
“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,” said Torstar CEO Neil Oliver in the press release.
“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.”
It’s the latest such move by a media company in Canada as tech giants respond in protest to the Canadian government’s Online News Act, which seeks to make them pay news outlets for sharing their content.
Media companies Quebecor Inc. and Cogeco Inc. have both said they will suspend advertising on Meta’s platforms. The federal government, as well as the province of Quebec and the City of Montreal, said they plan to do the same.
On Wednesday the heritage minister called Facebook “unreasonable” and “irresponsible” as he announced the move by Ottawa.
“If the government and politicians don’t stand up against that kind of bullying or intimidation, who will?” said Pablo Rodriguez.