ottawa –
Canada’s Radio, Television and Telecommunications Commission has granted Google a five-year exemption from the Online News Act and ordered it to pay Canadian news organizations $100 million within 60 days.
Last year, Google agreed to pay Canadian news publishers $100 million a year to be exempted from a law that requires technology companies to sign contracts with news publishers.
Google ordered the Canadian Journalism Collective to distribute funds to news organizations.
The CRTC said in Monday’s decision that it believes Google meets the requirements for the exemption, but added conditions, including that more news companies must be allowed to join the consortium. .
“After reviewing public records, the CRTC granted Google a five-year exemption from the Act. Google must pay $100 million to (Canadian Journalism Collective) within 60 days of this decision. The CJC will then distribute the funds equitably to “eligible Canadian news organizations,” the CRTC said in a news release.
News Media Canada, which represents hundreds of publishers, previously said it was missing “key information” about the Canadian Journalism Collective, including its governance and how payments are calculated and funds are distributed. He expressed concern that there is.
The Canadian Journalism Collective submitted a plan for its governance structure to the CRTC in July.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2024.
