OTTAWA: Canada and Google have reached a deal in their dispute over new law that aims to make large internet firms share advertising revenue with news publishers in the country, local media reported on Wednesday.
If confirmed, the agreement would keep news content in Google search results – which had been under threat since the Alphabet-owned (GOOGL.O) firm said it would block news content on its platform once the online news new rules take effect.
However, Google Canada and the government of Canada did not immediately reply to requests for remarks. The deal reported by CBC News would see Canadian news content continue to be shared on Google’s platforms in return for the firm making annual payments to news outlets in the range of $73.6 million.
Canada, Google Reach Agreement to Keep News Content in Search Results: Report
The report maintained that the government of Canada and Google made an understanding on the regulatory framework earlier.
The Online News Act, part of world trend to make internet giants pay for news content, adopted the Canadian parliament in June and the government of Canada is finalizing rules and regulations that are likely to be released by a December 19 deadline.
Google said Canada’s law is more severe than the ones in Australia and Europe and raised concerns regarding the firm being exposed to possibly uncapped liability.
Earlier, a Canadian news industry forum lent support to some of concerns of the Google regarding the new law and regulations. META.O, the other internet giant has already blocked news sharing on Instagram and Facebook over its concerns about the new law.
