Canada Imposes New Fee on Google Under Online News Act
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced a new annual fee for Google, aimed at covering the costs of enforcing the country’s Online News Act. The law, which took effect in 2023, requires major digital platforms to compensate Canadian news publishers for content appearing on their services.
Google had already committed to paying CAD 100 million per year to news publishers in Canada. But now, the CRTC is imposing an additional fee with no fixed cap, which will take effect on April 1, 2025.
Google isn’t happy about it. A company spokesperson called the charge an unfair burden, saying: “We have been clear that funding the government’s implementation costs is not an appropriate or fair approach.” (Source: Reuters)
Why Is Google Being Charged?
The Online News Act was introduced to level the playing field between tech giants and traditional media outlets. Policymakers argue that companies like Google and Meta profit from news content without fairly supporting journalism, as they dominate the online advertising market.
In defending the new fee, the CRTC stated that its regulatory work is funded by fees charged to companies it oversees—not taxpayers. “The CRTC is a fee-funded organization, meaning the costs of our activities are borne by those we regulate,” the commission explained in its official announcement.
How This Could Affect News Content on Google
Google hasn’t said whether it will push back against the fee or adjust how it handles news content in Canada. However, this isn’t the first time a tech giant has resisted the Online News Act.
Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) took a different approach—blocking all news content in Canada rather than paying publishers. Some industry experts worry that if Google follows Meta’s lead, Canadian news sites could see reduced visibility in search results.
The decision also comes at a time when tensions are rising between Canada and the United States over tech policies, including Canada’s proposed digital services tax on American tech firms.
What’s Next?
The Online News Act is part of a larger, global trend of governments trying to regulate how big tech companies interact with journalism. Similar laws have been introduced in Australia, Europe, and the United States, and more countries could follow.
For now, all eyes are on Google’s next move. Will the company absorb the fee and continue business as usual? Or will it limit the display of Canadian news content like Meta did? Whatever happens next could shape the future of digital news access—not just in Canada, but globally.
