Get the latest tech news

Google granted 5-year exemption from Canada’s Online News Act

Google agreed last year to pay Canadian news publishers $100 million a year, indexed to inflation, in order to be exempt from the law.

The CRTC said in its decision Monday that it believes Google has met the requirements for an exemption, but has added stipulations including that it must allow more news businesses to join the collective. News Media Canada, which represents hundreds of publishers, said in a statement that it is “very pleased” with the CRTC’s decision. “The Online News Act is a world-leading regulatory framework that addresses the significant bargaining power imbalance between platforms and publishers when it comes to content licensing,” said the group’s president and CEO Paul Deegan.

Get the Android app