New Delhi: In a compelling turn of events, a consortium of Canadian news industry associations has formally petitioned the nation's antitrust regulator to launch an investigation into Meta Platforms' recent move to bar news content from its platforms within Canada. News Media Canada and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters are leading the charge, alleging that Meta's decision constitutes an abuse of its dominant market position, with potentially adverse repercussions for Canadian news outlets.

Meta's decision to curtail news access on its Facebook and Instagram platforms took effect on August 1, 2023. The move comes in direct response to the impending Online News Act, a legislation mandating internet giants to remunerate news sources for their content. Although this law has yet to be enacted, Meta has unequivocally stated its intent to defy its stipulations.

The crux of the Canadian news industry groups' contention revolves around the assertion that Meta's news blockade is a retaliatory measure against the government for enacting the Online News Act. The groups argue that this decision could severely dent the visibility and outreach of Canadian news entities.

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Advocating for intervention to counter potential anti-competitive conduct, the industry associations have petitioned Canada's Competition Bureau, the nation's principal antitrust oversight body.

While the Competition Bureau's response remains uncertain, this appeal from the Canadian news industry holds profound implications for the ongoing tug-of-war between Meta and the Canadian government over the Online News Act.

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Meta's step to restrict news content access underscores the clout that tech behemoths exert over the media realm and accentuates the need for vigilant governmental measures to protect news organizations' interests and the public's access to diverse and credible news sources.

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