The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announced on Wednesday that it will require Google to pay a fee to cover the costs of enforcing a law mandating that major internet platforms compensate for news content displayed on their websites.
This decision to impose a levy on the California-based search engine giant coincides with growing tensions between Canada and the U.S. regarding trade, border security, and regulations targeting American tech companies.
Starting on April 1, the cost recovery rule under the Online News Act will be enforced, allowing the CRTC to adjust the charge annually without a set limit. Google opposed this measure during public consultations, arguing it was unbalanced to burden one entity with the full cost.
As part of a global movement to compel tech giants to support the news industry, Canada passed legislation last year to address concerns that these companies were dominating the online advertising market at the expense of news organizations.
Following negotiations, Google agreed to an annual C$100 million payment to publishers to retain news on its search results, while Meta chose to block news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms in Canada to avoid similar obligations.
Google criticized the enforcement of the rule as "an unfair additional regulatory burden" in submissions to the CRTC, highlighting its ongoing efforts to sustain the news ecosystem in Canada.
According to the CRTC, the recovery fees will solely apply to digital platforms covered by the Online News Act, restricting the financial obligations to companies like Google. Google declined to provide further comments beyond its initial response to the CRTC consultation.