Will Google face questions over blocking news access? MPs to debate in committee

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted February 28, 2023 7:48 am Updated February 28, 2023 7:49 am 0:31 Trudeau slams Google for blocking news content from Canadians WATCH: Trudeau slams Google for blocking news content from Canadians Some members of Parliament want to see Google in the hot seat over the tech company’s move to temporarily block news access to some of its Canadian users. The House of Commons heritage committee is meeting Tuesday and members are expected to discuss whether to summon leadership from Google to testify.Last week Google confirmed to The Canadian Press that it was limiting news access on its search engine to less than four per cent of its Canadian users.Google says it’s a short-lived test in response to the Liberal government’s proposed Online News Act, which it opposes.The bill would require digital giants such as Google and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, to negotiate deals to compensate Canadian media companies for displaying or providing links to their news content. Trending Now Story continues below advertisement The Liberal, New Democrat and Bloc Quebecois committee members who called for the meeting say Google is trying to intimidate the Parliamentary process in Canada by “threatening to censor news on its platform.”“Intimidation of this sort has become commonplace as tech giants push back against global accountability,” the six MPs wrote in a letter to the committee’s chair. 2:01 Google blocks some Canadian news sites from results in protest of Bill C-18 Larger media companies have praised the online news bill, saying it will create a level playing field with Google and Facebook, which compete with them for advertising dollars.Tech companies and the Conservatives have pushed back against the bill, arguing it is the wrong approach to enhance journalism. Google has said it would rather pay Canadian media outlets through a monetary fund than be regulated by the government. &copy 2023 The Canadian Press Sponsored content Flyers