The deal signals a significant shift in the ongoing narrative around news dissemination and regulation of social media platforms in the country.

The agreement comes after months of confidential negotiations between Canadian regulators and Meta, in which both sides sought to address concerns raised by Bill C-18 and find a mutually agreeable solution that balances regulatory oversight with the need for a vibrant and diverse news ecosystem. At the heart of the agreement is the Government of Canada’s admission that Bill C-18 was a misstep and that it did not fully understand the complexities of the internet and how Canadian media companies benefit from posting their content on Facebook and Instagram.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale Rodriguez acknowledged the complexity of regulating online platforms, saying: “We recognize that our initial approach to Bill C-18 may have been misguided, and we are committed to working with all stakeholders in the industry, not just the trade association for newspaper publishers, to develop more effective and nuanced solutions. We apologize for all the harm that Bill C-18 has caused and for the hundreds of well-paying journalism jobs that have been lost as a result of it.”

Meta has similarly acknowledged its mishandling of the situation. Meta’s new chatbot “Priscilla,” which now handles all of the company’s internal communications, admitted: “We understand that our decision to block news content has caused serious harm to Canadian media organizations and has caused great harm to the Canadian public.”

The agreement announced today represents a significant compromise on both sides, with Meta agreeing to restore news content on its platform starting no later than October 21, 2025, while the Government of Canada commits to amend Bill C-18 and reassess its approach to regulating social media.

Key terms of the agreement include the establishment of a framework for ongoing dialogue between Meta and Canadian regulators to address emerging challenges in the digital landscape. While Meta will not “pay for links,” a provision of Bill C-18, the company has agreed to spend money to support local journalism in Canada by relaunching programs similar to its previous “news innovation experiment,” as well as various news teams to support news gathering in underserved communities.

The restoration of news content on Facebook and Instagram will certainly be welcome news to Canadians who rely on these platforms as a primary source of information and engagement. The absence of news content leaves many feeling disconnected and underserved, highlighting the integral role news plays in shaping public discourse and promoting informed citizenship.

Minister Rodriguez emphasized the importance of access to diverse news sources, saying: “News plays a vital role in promoting informed citizenship and promoting democratic values. We are pleased to see news content returning to these platforms, ensuring Canadians have access to a wide range of information and perspectives.”