Well. We had our final vote on C-18 today. And even though the bill has not yet had Royal Proclamation, and has not yet come into force, Facebook has just announced it will be blocking all news in Canada. As, alas, I predicted. https://about.fb.com/news/2023/06/changes-to-news-availability-on-our-platforms-in-canada/ #SenateofCanada #Canada #cdnpoli #BillC18 #C18 #OnlineNewsAct #Facebook #Google #becarefulwhatyouwishfor
Although, I note, the language here is vague. Have they started blocking already? Will they begin when the bill gets Royal Assent? Or not till the bill comes into force? Is this just a bullying/bargaining position? Or are they quitting Canada cold turkey? The language is…um…opaque. #Canada #Facebook #Google #OnlineNewsAct #SenateofCanada
In any event, I will keep on encouraging my (allegedly) 10,000 Facebook fan page fans to migrate with me to Mastodon. At least here, I'll be able to point links to interesting news stories and my own op-ed pieces! If you have FB friends who are interested in news, current affairs, and political conversation, you might suggest they check out Mastodon if they want to stay informed and engaged. #SenateofCanada #Facebook #BillC18 #OnlineNewsAct #Mastodon #MastodonMigration
Meantime…Jamie Irving, a huge public champion of #BillC18 is out as the chair of Postmedia. A surprise announcement this afternoon. https://www.postmedia.com/2023/06/22/postmedia-announces-changes-to-board-of-directors-2/ #Postmedia #OnlineNewsAct #C18 #BillC18
@Paulatics I'm trying really really hard to not jump to conclusions on this one, but I do wonder if Jamie sees the writing on the wall for where this is all headed and has chosen to hit the emergency eject button now before it all hits the fan.