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JE Technology Desk: Meta will end support for news content on its social media apps, Instagram and Facebook, for people using the app in Canada. The move is among the ripple effects of the Canadian government's legislation that requires big tech companies to pay news outlets.

Known as the Online News Act, the legislation was approved by the upper chamber and will pivot into law after it receives assent from the governor general as a part of the process.

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"Today, we are confirming that news availability will be ended on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada prior to the Online News Act taking effect," Meta said.

The company had already shared hints of this update in the past, claiming that news holds no economic value for its platform. "We have repeatedly shared that in order to comply with Bill C-18, passed today in Parliament, content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will no longer be available to people accessing our platforms in Canada," as per IANS, the company said.

The bill was proposed after receiving requests from the media landscape in Canada that aimed for strict regulations for big tech firms to ensure news businesses are not kept isolated in the online ad market. This law will streamline rules for commercial deals and payments to news publishers for content. It is along similar lines to Australia's 2021 law.

Google and Meta have said the proposals are 'unsustainable' for their businesses. The search giant argued the law is broader than the one in Australia and Europe, as it puts a price on news story links in search results and may apply to outlets that are not in the business of journalism.

It proposed a revised bill to make the displaying of news content, and not links, as a basis for payment and disperse payments to only organisations that produce news and follow journalistic standards. Meanwhile, other products and services of the platform will continue to function as it is in Canada.

With inputs from Reuters