{"id":11639,"date":"2023-06-30T05:44:51","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T09:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.routineproceedings.com\/?p=11639"},"modified":"2023-07-01T01:36:43","modified_gmt":"2023-07-01T05:36:43","slug":"roundup-google-joins-the-bully-tactics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.routineproceedings.com\/2023\/06\/30\/roundup-google-joins-the-bully-tactics\/","title":{"rendered":"Roundup: Google joins the bully tactics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Following Facebook\u2019s particular tantrum over the online news bill, and their announcement that they will remove Canadian news links from their site, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalnewswatch.com\/2023\/06\/29\/meta-ends-contract-for-journalism-fellowship-program-as-bill-c-18-fallout-continues\/\">end some of their media fellowship programmes<\/a>, Google has stated that they will do the same, and lo, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. It\u2019s absolutely a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/hamilton\/canada-can-t-cave-to-intimidation-tactics-by-google-and-meta-over-online-news-law-hamilton-mp-says-1.6891619\">bully tactic<\/a>, but so far the government is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/politics\/heritage-minister-surprised-by-google-news-ban-ambassador-says-u-s-won-t-intervene-1.6462229\">holding firm<\/a>. It has been pointed out that when these web giants tried this in Australia, they lasted four days before they returned to the table, so we\u2019ll see how long this lasts.<\/p>\n<p>This having been established, a couple of things: Despite the media narrative, the bill is not a \u201clink tax.\u201d Links are nowhere in the spirit or the text of the bill. These companies were not supposed to be paying for hosting links on their sites, but rather, this was supposed to be an exercise in trying to rebalance the marketplace. Facebook and Google have so distorted the advertising market and destroyed it for media companies that this was supposed to be a way of essentially trying to compensate the public good of journalism for how they distorted the ad market. What the law is supposed to do, once it\u2019s in force, is create transparent conditions for those negotiations to take place, with the oversight of the CRTC as an arm\u2019s-length regulator. Again, this is not paying for links. There is no prescribed tariff rate for these links, but it was about addressing a market failure in a way that is as arm\u2019s-length from government as possible. But web giants don\u2019t like transparency (the deals they signed with media companies previously were all secret), and they don\u2019t like to be held accountable. And the distance from government is also why the government didn\u2019t just tax them and redistribute those revenues\u2014never mind that web giants are expert at evading taxes, and the howls of government funding journalism from those revenues would be worse than the existing funds that the government already provides print journalism (which, again, they tried to keep as arm\u2019s-length as possible through advisory boards making the qualification determinations).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">"I really believe that the way to get a good deal for Canadian journalism and for Canadians is to be firm, clear, polite and at the end of the day to stand up for the national interest," says Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland when asked re: Meta & Google's responses to C-18.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/cdnpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#cdnpoli<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GV6grfjrsg\">pic.twitter.com\/GV6grfjrsg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CPAC_TV\/status\/1674515591724519428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m less inclined to be angry at the government, because they were largely being responsive to what the news industry was asking of them, even though that is tainted by the self-interest of certain zombie media giants. We should, however, absolutely be angry that these web giants are throwing their weight around and bullying sovereign governments like this, and it makes the case even more that these companies have become too big and need to be broken up. The fact that they are beating up on Canada won\u2019t endear them to other jurisdictions, like the EU, but that\u2019s in part why they\u2019re doing it\u2014they don\u2019t want other countries to do what Canada is attempting here. But this may very well be a case that they are overplaying their hands, and those other countries or jurisdictions they are trying to scare off won\u2019t be deterred.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">All of Canadian society should be outraged by this and it should spark international discussion about whether to break up Google and Facebook, who now brazenly see themselves as unbeholden to countries that try to rebalance the internet for societal good. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aBrGjixtt6\">https:\/\/t.co\/aBrGjixtt6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/pdmcleod\/status\/1674474926324035588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I agree with Saba but also I think we need to change the way we talk about this to help people understand what's going on. A lot of coverage doesn't get it and calls these bills a "link tax" or whatever, when the policy is about balancing a broken, imbalanced online economy. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RgXVtjxd55\">https:\/\/t.co\/RgXVtjxd55<\/a><\/p>\n<p>— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/pdmcleod\/status\/1674509495307780097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the opposition parties are having another normal one about this. Cripes.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It\u2019s always a conspiracy\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/UMiSXqHORX\">pic.twitter.com\/UMiSXqHORX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/journo_dale\/status\/1674583176302174208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Boy, that\u2019ll show them! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wrFjwcE7l8\">pic.twitter.com\/wrFjwcE7l8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/journo_dale\/status\/1674517616575086595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Ukraine Dispatch:<\/p>\n<p>No news from the front-lines of the counter-offensive, but emergency workers in the four districts surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/news\/world\/europe\/2023\/06\/29\/ukraine-holds-drills-in-zaporizhzhia-to-prepare-for-radiation-leaks-from-russian-held-nuclear-plant.html\">conducting drills<\/a> in preparation for the event of a nuclear incident or leak involving the plant, as they are convinced Russia will stage. Meanwhile, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/news\/world\/europe\/2023\/06\/29\/zelenskyy-meets-thunberg-others-forming-ukraine-war-ecology-group.html\">met with<\/a> Greta Thunberg to discuss the ecological impacts of war, including of the burst dam. Zelenskyy also met with former US vice president <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/mike-pence-former-us-vp-presidential-hopeful-visits-ukraine-nbc-2023-06-29\/\">Mike Pence<\/a>, for that matter. Human Rights Watch says that they have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/human-rights-watch-reports-new-evidence-ukrainian-use-banned-landmines-2023-06-30\/\">evidence<\/a> that Ukraine has also been using illegal landmines as part of their operations.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The attack occurred when residents came to the place, known as the "invincibility center," to receive humanitarian aid, Prokudin said.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Prosecutor General's Office, warehouses and other civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged in the attack.<\/p>\n<p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KyivIndependent\/status\/1674407203678085122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Why high-precision weapons are important. This is a place where RU occupiers had their equipment and arms in a village near Kupiansk. It was destroyed by high-precision Ukrainian strike. Such strikes prepared counter-offensive in September \u201822 leading to liberation of many lands <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SNNkgVj6J0\">pic.twitter.com\/SNNkgVj6J0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ukraine_world\/status\/1674434218762588161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more-->Good reads:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>While the UK wants to fast-track Ukraine\u2019s membership in NATO, Anita Anand <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalnewswatch.com\/2023\/06\/29\/u-k-wants-nato-to-speed-up-ukraines-membership-process-as-alliance-prepares-to-meet\/\">maintains<\/a> that they need to win their war first.<\/li>\n<li>The deadline for arbitration now passed, Canada and allies are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/canada-taking-iran-to-icj-flight-752-1.6892390\">taking<\/a> Iran to the International Court of Justice over the downing of Flight PS752.<\/li>\n<li>CSE released their annual report yesterday, showing that they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/politics\/canada-s-cyberspy-agency-conducting-more-foreign-operations-blocking-billions-of-malicious-actions-a-day-report-1.6461213\">block<\/a> an average of 6.3 billion malicious actions per day, and are also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/defence-cyber-ukraine-latvia-canada-1.6892420\">protecting<\/a> Ukraine and Latvia.<\/li>\n<li>From the better late than never file, <em>The Canadian Press<\/em> has an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalnewswatch.com\/2023\/06\/29\/climate-policies-and-fossil-fuel-clean-fuel-regulations-and-carbon-pricing-explained\/\">explainer<\/a> about the Clean Fuel Standard (which no, is not a gods damned carbon tax.)<\/li>\n<li>Police are treating the stabbings at the University of Waterloo as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalnewswatch.com\/2023\/06\/29\/triple-stabbing-at-university-of-waterloo-was-hate-motivated-police-say-man-charged\/\">hate crime<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>There is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/politics\/federal\/2023\/06\/29\/pierre-poilievre-has-a-likeability-challenge-heres-what-conservative-insiders-say-he-should-do-about-it-and-where-hes-going-wrong.html\">grumbling<\/a> in the Conservative ranks about Poilievre that is leaking out, particularly as he has re-imposed a high level of caucus discipline.<\/li>\n<li>Chris Selley <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/opinion\/alberta-overdose-numbers-conservative-narrative\">points to<\/a> the recent stats on overdose deaths in Alberta, and how it complicates the narrative that Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre are pushing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Odds and ends:<\/p>\n<p>For <em>Xtra<\/em>, I had a one-on-one <a href=\"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/power\/politics\/randy-boissonnault-envoy-253699\">sit-down interview<\/a> with tourism minister Randy Boissonnault, where he indicated that an LGBTQ+ Special Envoy could happen.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/LindsayTedds\/status\/1674534084473950209<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings?\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/journo_dale\">Become a patron<\/a>\u00a0and get exclusive new content. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following Facebook\u2019s particular tantrum over the online news bill, and their announcement that they will remove Canadian news links from their site, and end some of their media fellowship programmes, Google has stated that they will do the same, and … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.routineproceedings.com\/2023\/06\/30\/roundup-google-joins-the-bully-tactics\/\">Continue reading <span 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