Proposed legislation that was reintroduced last month to regulate online streaming giants in Canada still largely overlooks online content creators, experts say, and could have a chilling effect on one of the country’s most successful talent pools.
The new bill gives the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the discretion to consider exceptions, including whether content uploaded to social media directly or indirectly generates revenue.
More concerning, Geist said, is how discoverability rules may force Canadian YouTube or TikTok content into Canadians’ feeds, regardless of whether or not they actually want to see it. Canadian content could receive fewer clicks or interactions as a result, meaning algorithms will brand those videos as something people aren’t interested in.
“More people will see it in Canada, but it seems likely that less people will see it everywhere else in the world and ultimately, digital first creators will receive less revenue and less exposure because of it,” he said.