For those not yet familiar with Bill C-18, you may have experienced its effects without realizing.

If you understand that the news you see is misleading and filled with bias, then you will already have taken steps to find news sources that are the closest to unfettered truth as you can get. If you’re not aware, then you continue to fall victim to the ‘truths’ that you are provided, all the while believing you know what’s happening around you when in fact you probably aren’t even hearing about the important issues.

Bill C-18 was passed on June 22, 2023. Defined as an Act to regulate the digital news content of online communication platforms ‘with a view to enhancing the fairness in the marketplace’ for Canadian news outlets. In short, if a platform is of sufficient size and stature to be influential, and they allow Canadian news content on their platform, then they must pay the purveyors (news agencies) for that content. A side note – these are the very same news agencies we, as tax payers, are already paying handsomely.

You may be aware Facebook and Instagram (Meta) have refused to comply and will no longer allow Canadian news content. Meta has begun removing posts that offer Canadian content. The fate of the remaining platforms we all rely on for communication has yet to be determined.

Also part of this Act is the opportunity for agreements to be made directly with news agencies to circumvent the censorship and negotiate deals, allowing those news outlets to be elevated above all others on that platform.

You, as a consumer of news, need to be aware that you are no longer getting the trusted content you want, where you expect to find it. Be wary, and do your own follow-up before believing anything you are offered online. There may be much more to it that you are not seeing.

Finally, it’s important to understand that this is not a Meta problem (or any other platform); this is a Canadian government problem. They have taken action that directly affects your ability to access and share valuable news and information. It is censorship.

Freedom of speech is one of our most valuable rights and it must be protected.

To read Bill C-18, click here