If passed in their current form, the bills in question would put streaming platforms under the same regulator as broadcasters and require them to pay news publishers for content shared on their platforms, in line with the model pioneered in Australia. Extended parliamentary scrutiny will thwart government efforts to secure quick passage.
Broad regulation of online-user-generated content will have a disproportionate impact on Canadian content generators.
Digital-revenue-sharing will largely benefit Canada’s largest media companies while smaller ones will continue to struggle.
By following the Australian payment model, Canada will avoid the delays associated with being a test case.
Much of the work on the bills will be done in the Senate, which will attempt to balance content provider and platform concerns.
Canada’s nascent AI sector will be affected by some aspects of pending legislation but parliament aims to be supportive.
