U.S. State Department Criticizes Canada's Online News Act, Calls it Threat to Press Freedom

The US State Department criticizes Canada's Online News Act, which requires Meta and Google to compensate news publishers, in a human rights report. The report claims the law undermines press freedom in Canada. Experts characterize the criticism as Orwellian and a calculated campaign to protect Big Tech profits. The US is also pushing for the repeal of the Online Streaming Act, which requires large streaming companies to make financial contributions to Canadian content and news.

The U.S. State Department has launched a scathing attack on Canada's Online News Act in its latest human rights report, claiming that the legislation undermines press freedom in the country. The act, which requires Meta and Google to compensate news publishers for the use of their content, has been the subject of intense criticism from the U.S. [1].

The report, released on August 14, 2025, asserts that the Online News Act restricts press freedom by imposing financial obligations on major tech companies. Experts, however, have characterized the criticism as a calculated campaign to protect the profits of Big Tech, rather than a genuine concern for press freedom. Fen Hampson, an international affairs professor at Carleton University, described the report as "Orwellian," suggesting that it distorts the facts to serve a political agenda [1].

The report also takes issue with a local journalism initiative in Canada that prioritizes the hiring of diverse journalists, including those from marginalized communities. It claims that this initiative discriminates against journalists who do not fit these categories, which experts argue is an attempt to correct historical imbalances in the media industry [1].

The U.S. is not only criticizing the Online News Act but is also pushing for the repeal of the Online Streaming Act, which requires large streaming companies like Netflix and Amazon to make financial contributions to Canadian content and news. This bill has been opposed by large tech companies, who argue that it unfairly targets their business models [1].

The State Department's criticism of Canada's legislation comes at a time when the U.S. itself has been accused of selective criticism in its human rights reports, with some countries receiving softer treatment than in previous years. The 2024 Human Rights Report, for instance, significantly softened criticism of El Salvador and Israel, while ramping up criticism of Brazil and South Africa [2].

The report's findings have sparked controversy and debate, with some experts arguing that it is a politicized document designed to serve U.S. interests rather than promote genuine human rights. The Canadian government has not yet responded to the State Department's criticism.

References:
[1] https://www.coastreporter.net/science-news/us-state-department-targets-online-news-act-in-human-rights-report-11078943
[2] https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-08-12/state-department-softens-criticism-of-trump-partner-countries-in-overhauled-human-rights-report