America has reportedly put ‘Google and Facebook’ conditions on Canada as part of trade negotiations

Canadian government officials are reportedly in talks with Meta about restoring news to Facebook. This comes as the Online News Act, which prompted the tech giant to end access to journalism on its platforms in Canada, has become part of trade negotiations with the United States, a report claims. In 2023, the social media giant blocked all news on Facebook and Instagram in response to the act, which would have required it to inject funds into Canada’s news industry for carrying its content.

According to a report by Canadian publication The Globe and Mail, the Online News Act, which became law in 2023, has come under scrutiny by the Trump administration, which regards it, along with Ottawa’s Online Streaming Act, as a trade irritant.