Meta is more than aware that if it pays the links ransom Canada is demanding, the global bill will wind up in the mega billions. And for something it neither does, needs, nor is popular with its users.
When it comes to the news industry, affairs are urgent and the CBC is a priority that has to be dealt with. Its dual commercial/public broadcaster role is distorting the market and has to end.
Many Canadians want the CBC to be a public broadcaster as it was envisioned, connecting Canadians, advertising-free. Trouble is, it doesn’t care. It wants to be something else.
Already famous for cracking down on dissent, Canada is poised to become a global leader in restricting online speech and meddling with news media as the government moves forward with a buffet of speech and media legislation.
