Canada's online-streaming bill is now concerning U.S. officials. Ever since the controversial Bill C-11 was proposed, many content creators said that they are worried about the legislation's impacts if it ever becomes a law.
Bill C-11 (Copywrite Modernization Act) aims to allow CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications) to regulate American-owned online streaming services.
These include Amazon's Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, and other popular streaming platforms. If it becomes a law, CRTC will have more power to promote Canadian TV, movies, music, and videos.
But, Global News reported that some U.S. officials shared their concerns. Here's why.
Canada's Online-Streaming Bill Concerns the US
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai shared her worries about Canada's online-streaming legislation.
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Aside from Tai, International Trade Minister Mary Ng also said she is concerned with the possible impacts of Bill C-11.
Both of these U.S. officials shared their concerns at the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Free Trade Commission ministerial meeting.
Based on the U.S. government's recordings of the meeting, Ambassador Tai said that the pending legislation in Canada could impact digital streaming services once it is passed.
Aside from Tai and Ng, other experts also explained why the Canadian online-streaming bill is bad news for digital-first content creators.
Canada's Bill C-11 Poses Trade Risks?
The University of Ottawa's Canada Research Chair in internet law, Michael Geist, is also worried about the passing of Bill C-11.
He explained that it poses trade risks, claiming that the Canadian government ignores this possibility.
"By raising concerns before the bill even passes, there is an unmistakable signal that Canada could face hundreds of millions of dollars of retaliatory tariffs," said Geist via CTV News.
He added that this could happen as a consequence of the legislation, which Canadian digital-first creators already oppose.
Although many officials and experts have already explained why the online-streaming bill can negatively affect streaming services, the U.S. is still far from taking action against it.
On the other hand, digital service taxes are now expected to be imposed in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Meta asked the Facebook Oversight Board if COVID-19 misinformation policies should be adjusted.
For more news updates about Canada's Bill C-11 and other internet-related topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
