Canada vows to follow Australia with new law after Facebook bans news

The Australia news ban has led to strident criticism of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive
The Australia news ban has led to strident criticism of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive

Canada vowed to make Facebook pay for its news content as the social media giant faced international condemnation for imposing a blackout on Australia.

Facebook has been labelled a “schoolyard bully” for blocking links to news outlets in Australia in response to a planned law requiring it to pay for news shared on its site.

Canada said that it would not be deterred from implementing a law similar to Australia’s, and appealed for international allies to take on Big Tech.

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive, with Sir Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, who has been urged to consider his senior position at the company
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive, with Sir Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, who has been urged to consider his senior position at the company
NIALL CARSON/PA

Steven Guilbeault, the culture minister in charge of crafting the legislation, said: “Canada is at the forefront of this battle.”

British MPs said that Facebook’s move showed that it should face tougher rules in the online harms bill, which has pledged to better regulate social