Google confirms it is testing blocking news content access for some in Canada
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Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) confirmed on Wednesday that it is testing blocking access of news content for some people in Canada in a potential response to the country's online news bill.
"We're briefly testing potential product responses to Bill C-18 that impact a very small percentage of Canadian users," a Google spokesperson told Reuters. "We run thousands of tests each year to assess any potential changes to Search." 
The test is being done in reference to House of Commons bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act, which would result in platforms negotiating deals and paying publishers for their content.
The spokesperson added that the tests are time limited and include a random sampling of less than 4% of its Canadian users.
Meta Platforms (META) has dealt with a similar issue in the past, notably in Australia, where it battled the government. It briefly shut down the news feed for Facebook in the country before it eventually reached an agreement with lawmakers. 
Like Google (GOOG) (GOOGL), Meta (META) has also faced the same issue in Canada.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) is the subject of yet another antitrust case from the U.S. Department of Justice, this time over its Maps application.