We Lost Our IG? Unpacking the Impact of Bill C18

You may have noticed that the Argus has been surprisingly quiet on Instagram this semester. No, we didn’t have an Amazon Alexa moment and “lose our voice” instead, we have been subjected to the impact of Bill C18, but not to worry dear readers, stay tuned for an exciting announcement!

Canada’s digital media landscape is on the cusp of a major transformation as the country has taken an uncertain dive into the digital future with the introduction of Bill C-18, which was passed as a law in June of this year. This legislation is set to reshape the way news and social media operate within the country, presenting both challenges and opportunities in the realm of information consumption and sharing. 

Understanding Bill C-18

Bill C-18 also known as the Online News Act, was implemented to ensure that news outlets received fair compensation for the content that they published on social media platforms. It establishes a system that would put pressure on tech giants such as Google and Meta to create paid contracts with Canadian media outlets. In a Charter Statement put out by the Government of Canada, it is stated that the legislation primarily extends towards “digital news intermediaries that make news content produced by news outlets available to persons in Canada”. Search engines and social media platforms both fall under this umbrella term.

What are the implications of Bill C-18?

In light of the new legislation, Meta and Google have made a shocking move to block any and all Canadian news from their platforms, restricting netizens of Canada from viewing any content or links created and published by Canadian news outlets. As a consequence, this could create an information vacuum, leaving individuals less informed about current events, especially those who do not actively seek out alternative sources. It is also likely that this step could raise concerns about censorship. 

For the digital moguls, this may spell disaster as this risky move can see them lose users, and experience reduced user engagement and scrutiny from the public. In fact, Meta’s unwillingness to disseminate information to the public during the summer wildfires in Canada landed them under the crosshairs of many notable figures. 

That being said, Bill-C18 may have taken our Instagram page down but we’re still up and kicking at the Argus! We have been the voice of Lakehead since 1966 and we will not be silenced now.