Canada’s Online News Act: All You Need to Know
Living in the 21st century makes basically anything and everything easily accessible online: shopping, food, transportation, and communication. Digital platforms connect people easily no matter how physically far they are from each other. Today, social media and theislandnow are also news sources that keep people updated on happenings all around the world in just a matter of seconds.
The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has recently imposed an Online News Act where online news sources will operate under a framework of stipulated standards. It is formally known as Bill C-18 which was introduced in April of 2022. It is an amendment to the current policies of the country when it comes to programming and information publishing.
Online News Act: What’s in it for You?
Amidst the chaos in the online world and the fact that misleading information and fake news are just a click away, Canada took a step forward to regulate these things. Digital platforms play a vital role in news sharing not just in Canada but all across the globe. There are a lot of controversies and issues behind the system, so to fight this, the Online News Act aims to
- prevent forced commercial agreements between news sources or outlets and third-party businesses;
- ensure that the entire Canadian population is represented in all aspects;
- promote collective bargaining, and;
- guarantee fair profit-sharing between parties.
Once the bill gets implemented, an improvement in the entire Canadian news ecosystem is expected. The facilitation of businesses between online platforms and local news sources will be easier and more secure. Contents made will be verified legitimate before reaching the public eye. It will also maintain press independence online.
News Businesses
The Online News Act also includes a clause that has the criteria for the eligibility of new news business entrants. It is almost the same as the stipulations made by the Qualified Canadian journalism organization (QCJO) on the Income Tax Act. In order to enter the industry, the news organization must:
- be designated as a QCJO
- have 2 or more journalists employed in the country
- be operating within the Canadian Borders
- acknowledge the production of quality news content
The act also guarantees that there are no biases involved in producing content. It protects journalists from blackmail and under-the-table transactions. It also gives access to the government to intervene (but not have major control) on the business processes and journalism activities of the said news organizations.
As advantageous and convenient it is to spread the news online since it has become easy and quick, it can also be very damaging especially if the information posted is false and misleading. Fake news posted online can easily mislead its readers and may cause great damage to the general public. It may instill fear, cause doubt in the system, and inflict chaos. It is important that there are statutes to be followed in publishing information to ensure its legitimacy and the publishers’ accountability on it.