Thread by @jason_kint

Just arrived home from Ottawa, 🇨🇦 - super trip. Canada is close to passing bill which will rebalance bargaining power between Google, Facebook and the local news media. As with similar code in Australia, both companies will try near everything to stop it. Here is my testimony: /1

I shared 5 points:
1) will help rebalance bargaining power
2) relies on market rather than govt for terms protecting news independence
3) applies only to situation of significant power imbalance (eg Google, Facebook) /2

4) it’s BS that it will harm the internet or act as a tax on links (more on that shortly)
5) pubs can collectively bargain which is what in Australia allowed small pubs to generate more $ per journalist than larger ones /3

I shouldn’t have been surprised but a witness, a MP and a twitter account simultaneously tried to introduce the idea the law requires payment for links contrary to my opening statement. Thankfully, I was allowed to respond. “Hogwash.” /4

I was also asked the importance of this legislation to stop the “hemorrhaging” of local news media at the hands of the dominant gatekeepers, Google and Facebook, and ensure funding of trusted local journalism for democracy. /5

Reminder, Facebook executed on a highly calculated plan to cause chaos in Australia with considerations for its global policy interests. One of the most unethical plans I've ever seen by major tech company in my 30yrs. Now it's Canada's turn. /6

and my thread from this morning to wrap this in a bow. /7

Adding this to the end as someone was asking about any other reports available on Australia results. /8 jninstitute.org/wp-content/upl…

Suffice it to say, $329 million per year of additional funding to the news, their newsrooms and journalists would be a GAME CHANGER. #C18 ht @DCNorg /9 pressgazette.co.uk/canada-google-…