4 ms·

Bill C-18 nowhere contains the word "link" or "url". Has anyone read it and can point out the specific language that makes it a "link tax"?

gspencley 3y ago
Here you go: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-18 https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-18 The language of the bill is "makes available." It is intentionally broad. > digital news intermediary means an online communications platform, including a search engine or social media service, that is subject to the legislative authority of Parliament and that makes news content produced by news outlets available to persons in Canada.
- intrasight 3y ago
  A URL is not "new content". I really don't see how they can interpret it as such. And if they are not sure, they should ask. Or is the issue that they have asked and have not received clarification?
  - beej71 3y ago
    I once had a post removed from Facebook (not sure if it was DMCA, but it was a copyright claim). My offense: I had linked to a page that linked to a page with pirated content. Of course, the reporter had zero copyright claim on the URL I posted. But that didn't matter at the end of the day. And expecting politicians to willingly understand this instead of doing big political posturing is serious wishful thinking, I'm afraid.
  - Tiktaalik 3y ago
    A bare URL alone I think yeah very arguably isn't news content, but a URL wrapping a headline and a photo is certainly news content. Generally we're seeing the latter.
    - intrasight 3y ago
      The URL can have a headline and I think even an image - no "wrapping" necessary. This will allow a publication to specify exactly what content social media can present. If they present more, they are in violation and should be fined. Seems a good compromise to me. And perhaps that will be the agreement that allows both sides to get what they want. So perhaps C-18 will prove beneficial for forcing the two parties together.
      - Tiktaalik 3y ago
        how many times have you we seen anyone comment on an article from a headline alone? Even just the headline is news content.
  - gspencley 3y ago
    Where does "new content" come from? I'm confused as to what part of the legislation makes the concept of "new content" relevant or important. The part of the legislation that I copied for you does not include the words "new content." It's about "making news content available."
tomComb 3y ago
Yes, someone has read it: Michael Geist, the most expert and independent voice we have on this topic. I’m not qualified to parse this bill, so the best I can do is be careful about my sources, and every source that I respect thinks this bill is ridiculous, harmful political corruption, and that the meat of it is a tax on links.
- r00fus 3y ago
  Has anyone been able to justify this as anything but a pure link tax that send money to the telecoms?

gspencley 3y ago

Here you go: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-18 https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-18 The language of the bill is "makes available." It is intentionally broad. > digital news intermediary means an online communications platform, including a search engine or social media service, that is subject to the legislative authority of Parliament and that makes news content produced by news outlets available to persons in Canada.

intrasight 3y ago
A URL is not "new content". I really don't see how they can interpret it as such. And if they are not sure, they should ask. Or is the issue that they have asked and have not received clarification?
- beej71 3y ago
  I once had a post removed from Facebook (not sure if it was DMCA, but it was a copyright claim). My offense: I had linked to a page that linked to a page with pirated content. Of course, the reporter had zero copyright claim on the URL I posted. But that didn't matter at the end of the day. And expecting politicians to willingly understand this instead of doing big political posturing is serious wishful thinking, I'm afraid.
- Tiktaalik 3y ago
  A bare URL alone I think yeah very arguably isn't news content, but a URL wrapping a headline and a photo is certainly news content. Generally we're seeing the latter.
  - intrasight 3y ago
    The URL can have a headline and I think even an image - no "wrapping" necessary. This will allow a publication to specify exactly what content social media can present. If they present more, they are in violation and should be fined. Seems a good compromise to me. And perhaps that will be the agreement that allows both sides to get what they want. So perhaps C-18 will prove beneficial for forcing the two parties together.
    - Tiktaalik 3y ago
      how many times have you we seen anyone comment on an article from a headline alone? Even just the headline is news content.
- gspencley 3y ago
  Where does "new content" come from? I'm confused as to what part of the legislation makes the concept of "new content" relevant or important. The part of the legislation that I copied for you does not include the words "new content." It's about "making news content available."

tomComb 3y ago

Yes, someone has read it: Michael Geist, the most expert and independent voice we have on this topic. I’m not qualified to parse this bill, so the best I can do is be careful about my sources, and every source that I respect thinks this bill is ridiculous, harmful political corruption, and that the meat of it is a tax on links.

r00fus 3y ago
Has anyone been able to justify this as anything but a pure link tax that send money to the telecoms?