Local Independent Television Stations (LITS), a coalition of broadcasters from across the country, have formally asked the CRTC to compel Meta to come to the bargaining table under the Online News Act.
The broadcasters, which include Channel Zero, CHEK Media, Dougall Media, MCA Media Group, Newfoundland Broadcasting, Pattison Media, RNC Média and Télé Inter-Rives, maintain in their application that Meta’s so-called “news ban” – which took effect in August 2023 – has not succeeded in removing news from its platforms, but rather simply blocked verified Canadian news outlets, “leaving space for workarounds, copycat content, and AI-generated material that mimics legitimate journalism.”
“It is our position that Canadians deserve real news, not AI ‘slop,’ and Meta has been able to evade its responsibilities under the Online News Act for far too long,” the coalition said in a release Thursday. “At a time when Canadians are increasingly worried about misinformation, deepfakes and AI-generated content designed to look like real news, Meta continues to block trusted Canadian journalism from Facebook and Instagram, while allowing unverified and often misleading content to circulate freely.”
“Canadians are deeply concerned about misinformation and AI-generated fake content flooding social media,” said Rob Germain, CEO, CHEK Media, in the release. “It makes no sense that Meta blocks trusted local newsrooms while allowing misleading and AI-generated content to spread unchecked. That puts the public at risk.”
The group says Meta recently indicated it would consider paying Canadian news organizations for use of their content to train large language models (LLMs), but only if those organizations publicly call for the repeal of the Online News Act. The broadcasters say that approach undermines democratic policymaking.
“It is deeply troubling that Meta appears willing to pay for Canadian journalism only if news organizations oppose Canadian law,” said Cal Millar, President, Channel Zero. “That puts newsrooms in an impossible position and risks politicizing independent journalism.”
The group says compensation for AI training and compliance with the Online News Act are separate issues, and neither should require news organizations to take a political position. LITS is asking the CRTC to formally designate Meta as an operator of digital news intermediaries and require it to enter into negotiations.
“Local news is not optional in a democracy,” added Millar. “When trusted sources are blocked and misinformation fills the gap, communities suffer. Canadians deserve better.”
