Canadian government interferes with the Internet
Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify will be regulated in Canada because of Bill C-11.
The bill, which would update Canadian broadcasting laws for the first time in the Internet age, is one step away from becoming law and affecting popular streaming platforms.
Bill C-11, also known as the Online Broadcasting Act, creates a framework for regulating digital streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify and would require them to help create and promote Canadian content. The bill passed its third reading in the Senate last month with 26 amendments. The House of Commons will have to decide which of these changes to keep before passing the bill into law.
Canadian creative unions, including the Writers Guild of Canada and the Canadian Media Producers Association, generally support the bill but have some concerns that its wording could create a two-tiered system that would mean Canadian broadcasters are held to a higher standard than foreign streamers. Meanwhile, Canadian content creators on sites like YouTube and TikTok are concerned about how the bill would affect them.
What is the point of Bill C-11?
Since 1968, the Broadcasting Act has set a number of goals for the Canadian broadcasting system, including that it should strengthen Canada's cultural code and emphasize Canadian talent.
To that end, it has rules that define what constitutes "Canadian programming" and how much of that must be played by Canadian broadcasters. These organizations must also contribute financially to the development and promotion of Canadian content.
Right now, these rules don't apply to online broadcasters like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify, which make money in Canada without requiring reinvestment in Canadian content. Bill C-11 wants to give new powers to the country's broadcasting regulator and extend the current broadcasting policy to the digital sphere.
The bill gives the regulator the power to impose conditions on how online streamers maintain Canadian content and contribute to production funds, as well as ensure that Canadian programs and movies are displayed in search results.
