Online News Act Application and Exemption Regulations (SOR/2023-276)

Marginal note:Interpretation — freedom and independence

8 For the purposes of subparagraph 11(1)(a)(iii) of the Act, the Commission must interpret the agreements as not allowing corporate influence to undermine the freedom of expression and journalistic independence enjoyed by news outlets if the agreements include a commitment that the operator will not, directly or through its digital news intermediary, take any action that undermines freedom of expression or journalistic independence, including

• (a) taking retaliatory action in response to an editorial decision of a news business or news outlet;

• (b) restricting actions a news business or news outlet may take to protect journalistic independence; and

• (c) intervening in a news business’s or a news outlet’s editorial process.