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IRS Get My Payment FAQ: Track down your third stimulus check with this online tool

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The IRS is sending the third stimulus checks and you can get an update on your payment. Here’s the first step if you want to track your status.


Sarah Tew/CNET

Millions of third stimulus checks have already hit checking accounts and mailboxes — as many as 90 million direct deposits as of Wednesday, according to the IRS. And millions more will be on their way in the coming weeks. Still haven’t received your $1,400 check (or however much you’re eligible to receive)? You can now check the status of your payment with the IRS Get My Payment tracker tool. 

As long as you’re a qualified third stimulus check recipient (calculate your payment here), the online app will show you the status of your check and issues you need to address that may be keeping you from getting your payment. The app can be tricky at times to figure out — we can help explain what your status means.

Even though the IRS is sending out a flood of payments, delivery could technically last until Dec. 31, 2021, as stipulated by the new stimulus bill. The agency is gearing up to send more payments by mail as paper checks and EIP debit cards soon. But we could still see issues come up with payments. And if they do, the tracker tool will be the IRS’ main way of communicating your payment schedule and status with you. The tool will no longer show you the status of your first two stimulus payments, however. Here’s everything you need to know. This story was recently updated.

IRS Get My Payment: The tracker app is live now

In tandem with the first payments arriving in bank accounts and through the postal service, the IRS has turned on its tracking tool, called Get My Payment, so individuals and families can learn the status of their check. The IRS said it will update payment-status information once a day, usually overnight, and notes that IRS phone assisters won’t have information beyond what is available in the tracker.

To get the status of the third check, enter your Social Security number, date of birth, street address and ZIP code. Then the tool will display a message with information about your check — whether the payment was sent, the payment method (direct deposit or physical mail) and the date it was issued. The tool will not show the amount of your payment. However, it will let you know if the service can’t yet determine your status — more below on error messages.


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Will the Get My Payment tool still let me sign up for direct deposit?

Now that the IRS is sending the third stimulus check, you’ll likely get it fastest if you have a direct deposit account already set up with the federal government. Some are reporting the IRS used the banking information they supplied on their taxes this year for the new stimulus payment.

With the first check, the online tool allowed you to enter your banking information to receive your payment straight to your bank account, if the IRS didn’t have your banking information. The IRS didn’t let people register new direct deposit accounts or change their banking information for the second stimulus check. And the updated Get My Payment tool for the third stimulus payment doesn’t allow you to add your banking information as the method the IRS will initally use to make your payment.

However, the IRS FAQ for Get My Payment says you can provide banking information if the IRS is unable to deliver your payment. After your payment is returned to the IRS, you will be able to add your banking information in the tool, the IRS said.

With the third checks now going out, you might still have time to receive your payment through direct deposit if you add your banking information on your 2020 taxes. If you want to try, you’ll need to act fast. You can register for a new direct deposit account (in fact, up to three) as part of filing your 2020 tax return. If the IRS receives your banking information before it processes your third payment, it could use that information to send your money. However, The Washington Post reports delays with the IRS in processing returns. By the way, the IRS has officially extended the 2020 tax filing deadline to May 17.

Why is my status ‘Need More Information’?

According to the IRS FAQ for the 2021 payment, a “Need More Information” message in the Get My Payment tool means your payment was returned because the US Postal Service was unable to deliver it.

The FAQ says you will be able to have your payment reissued as a direct deposit, by providing a routing and account number for a bank account, a prepaid debit card (the card must be reloadable, the IRS said) or a financial service that has a routing and account number associated with it. The updated FAQ said you can also update your mailing address to receive your payment.

The IRS and US Treasury are sending the third round of stimulus payments.


Sarah Tew/CNET

What about ‘Payment Status Not Available’?

Don’t be alarmed if the Get My Payment tool gives you a message that says “Payment Status Not Available.” You may see this message until your payment is processed, according to the IRS. So, you don’t have to do anything.

However, it could also mean you are not eligible for a payment, according the IRS, so you may want to double-check your eligibility and plug in your numbers in our stimulus check calculator to see if you are due money.

Get My Payment says the IRS sent me a third stimulus check, but I never got anything

If the IRS’ online tool said the agency has issued your stimulus money, but you have no record of it in the mail or in your bank account and it never arrived in your mailbox, you may need to file a stimulus check payment trace. It’s handy if you also have the letter the IRS may have sent you.

If your money is tied up in any way, the IRS Get My Payment tracking tool will indicate a problem.


Sarah Tew/CNET

Do I have to keep the IRS letter confirming my third stimulus payment? What if I threw it away?

If the IRS issues you a stimulus check, it sends a notice by mail to your last known address within 15 days after making the payment, to confirm delivery. The letter contains information on when and how the payment was made and how to report it to the IRS if you didn’t receive your check. The letter is helpful if you don’t receive your full payment and need to claim your money later. Here’s how to recover the information if you lost or tossed the letter.

How can I track the status of my stimulus check in the mail?

If your third stimulus check is going out in the mail, the US Postal Service has a free app that can notify you when it’s about to deliver your stimulus money from the IRS. Called Informed Delivery, the mail-tracking service automatically scans your letters and can alert you when they’ll be delivered. Here’s more on how to set up and use the letter-tracking service from the USPS to keep tabs on your payment.

What if I still never received all my money from the first or second stimulus payments?

The IRS is no longer automatically sending out the first and second payments. If you believe you are still owed money from either of those rounds, your best chance of claiming that missing first or second payment is to file for the Recovery Rebate Credit as part of tax season 2020. If you’re eligible, you’ll need to know the amount of money the IRS allotted you, which you can find out online or from the letter the agency mailed. The IRS said the updated Get My Payment tracker will not give you information on the first and second checks. Instead, you need to set up and check your IRS account for information on those two payments.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

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SSI, SSDI and third stimulus checks: Eligibility, when and how your payment will arrive

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The rules for the third stimulus check are set, and payments are going out. Here’s what that means to people who receive SSI and SSDI. 


Sarah Tew/CNET

The IRS is continuing to send out the first wave of $1,400 stimulus checks to eligible individuals and families with direct deposit on file with the agency — here’s how to see where your payment is. But if you’re a recipient of Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you may not get your check during the first wave. We’ll help answer questions you have about when to expect your third stimulus check and more. 

New rules that could change the amount of money you receive accompany the new stimulus checks, from expanded dependent eligibility requirements and other broader qualification changes. These modifications could help you get a bigger check this time, especially if the last-minute changes to the stimulus formula affected you. Also, here’s how the $1,400 stimulus check compares with the previous $600 and $1,200 payments.

Other details, however, are more complex — for example, if you stopped or started receiving SSI or SSDI in 2019 or 2020, your situation could become complicated now that it’s tax season. We’ll explain how to claim any money you’re missing from the first two stimulus checks — even if you don’t usually file taxes — and can help answer how your third payment might arrive. This story was recently updated.

When will I get my third stimulus payment if I’m in either the SSI or SSDI program?

On Friday, the IRS said a payment date for those who receive Social Security and other federal benefits “will be announced shortly.” The Social Security Q&A webpage for the third stimulus payment says it will add helpful questions and answers to the page soon.

Here’s what we know about the general timeline for when the IRS could start sending out the third stimulus check: 


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SSI and SSDI: The third stimulus payment eligibility requirements

In the just-approved American Rescue Plan, people who receive SSI and SSDI will once again automatically qualify to receive a third stimulus check, for $1,400, as they did for the first and second round of payments. 

For the first two rounds, those individuals were eligible so long as they had a Social Security number and weren’t claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, and so long as their household income didn’t exceed the threshold set ($75,000 single, $112,500 head of household, $150,000 married). 

The new bill that authorized the third check expands stimulus payment eligibility to dependents of all ages, including young adults age 17 to 24 and older adult dependents. It also increases the amount set aside for those dependents to $1,400 each. Another change: This time around, the checks will be more “targeted” than they were in the first two rounds, meaning that single taxpayers who earn $75,000 or less per year will be eligible for the full amount, while those who earn more than $80,000 per year won’t get any money. That means some families could get more money, while others could get less or none at all.

Those receiving Railroad Retirement and Veterans Affairs benefits also automatically qualify for a payment, as they did in the first and second round, the IRS said. 

The rules surrounding the third stimulus check can get confusing, fast.


Sarah Tew/CNET

How will my third stimulus payment be delivered to me? 

The IRS said it is adjusting how it will make payments to those who receive some federal benefits with the third check.

Most SSI and SSDI recipients didn’t receive their first payments via their Direct Express card, though this is usually what the government uses to distribute federal benefits. Instead, the payment arrived through a non-Direct Express bank account or as a paper check, if you didn’t have your bank account information on file with the IRS. 

For the second round of payments, the IRS said that SSI and SSDI recipients should have gotten their stimulus check money the same way they received their first stimulus checks. People who received the first round of payments via Direct Express should have received the second payment the same way, according to the IRS.

However, with the third check, the IRS said Social Security and other federal beneficiaries will likely receive the new payment the same way as their usual benefits, noting it will announce a payment date for this group shortly.

If you’re missing stimulus money for yourself or your dependents, you’ll need to claim it on your tax return.


Angela Lang/CNET

Dependents will qualify for more money than ever with the third round of checks

For the first stimulus check under the CARES Act, qualified people with dependents age 16 or younger were eligible for up to $500 per child dependent, but not everyone actually received that extra money. For the second stimulus check, as long as your children were 16 years old or younger, they contributed $600 toward the final total of your household’s second stimulus check. 

The third stimulus check changes the rules, and makes dependents of all ages eligible for up to $1,400 each that will apply to the household’s total payment, not just children under 17. That includes older adult relatives and college-age children as well.

Here’s who the IRS counts as an adult to receive their own stimulus check.

If you’re still missing money from the first two stimulus checks and don’t file taxes, here’s what you’ll have to do

According to the IRS, people who receive Social Security retirement, SSDI, SSI and Railroad Retirement benefits, as well as Veterans Affairs beneficiaries, were automatically eligible for the first two stimulus payments. If you receive these federal benefits as your only form of income, you weren’t required to file a federal income tax return in 2018 or 2019. Under the CARES Act passed in March 2020, you should have received a stimulus check automatically (no need to file a simple tax return, as the IRS had originally said).

If that money didn’t arrive, it’s possible you might have had a payment garnished for child support or to pay a specific kind of creditor, but the rules changed with a second check. However, an IRS error could also be one potential culprit, or that the IRS needed more information about your eligibility. 

It isn’t too late to claim missing stimulus money, but you have to file a tax return to do so. 


Sarah Tew/CNET

To receive your money now, you’ll need to claim the additional amount as part of tax season 2020, using the Recovery Rebate Credit. Even if you don’t usually file taxes, you will have to do so to get those funds. 

In some cases — like if you received a letter from the IRS confirming that your payment was sent, but you never actually got the money — you may need to contact the IRS to request a payment trace.

The IRS said you can create and then check an IRS account to see more information on the first two payments.

How to claim missing stimulus money for your dependents

If you used the IRS’ Non-Filers tool from May 5 through Aug. 15 of 2020, the IRS should’ve automatically issued the catch-up payment for your dependents in October 2020. If you received your original stimulus money by direct deposit, you should’ve gotten the catch-up payment the same way. Others would have received it in the mail. 

If you filed for your missing dependent money by Nov. 21, 2020, the payment should have arrived by the end of 2020 in the same way you received your first payment (likely direct deposit or by mail). If you missed the deadline, your check should be included on your 2020 tax return in 2021, if you file for a Recovery Rebate Credit.

To check the status of your or your dependent’s payment for the first or second payment, you can check your IRS account.

If you’re an SSI or SSDI recipient who doesn’t reside in the US, here’s what you need to know

If you’re a Social Security beneficiary with a foreign address whose monthly benefit is deposited in a foreign bank account, you should receive your third stimulus payment as a check in the mail. (The IRS doesn’t usually deposit money into foreign banks.) 

If you live abroad but receive your monthly benefits through a US bank, you should have received your first two payments by direct deposit to that account. If you still haven’t gotten your money, it will have to be claimed as part of a tax return. Find out everything you need to know about stimulus checks, citizenship and living abroad here.

Here’s everything else we know about third stimulus checks, including how to track your new payment.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

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Third stimulus check: Here’s what could delay or lower your payment

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The third stimulus check is already hitting some bank accounts, just days after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Act into law. But while some households will see the funds within the next few days, others may be in for a longer wait. 

About 85% of people will receive one of the $1,400 checks, Mr. Biden said on February 12. But it’s likely that some of the issues that stymied delivery for some people in the previous two rounds could cause a repeat situation. For instance, some people who didn’t have a bank account on file with the IRS during the previous two rounds of checks had to wait several weeks for debit cards or paper checks to reach their homes. 

It’s most likely that people who have filed their 2020 or 2019 tax returns and have a bank account on file with the tax agency will quickly receive their stimulus checks through direct deposit, based on the prior payment rollouts. That’s because the IRS prioritizes getting the stimulus money out quickly to those that it knows it can reach — and it’s a massive effort, given that the tax agency has $422 billion in funds to distribute to more than 100 million taxpayers. 

“You don’t need to do anything to get your stimulus check,” a TurboTax spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch in an email.  “The IRS will determine eligibility based on your last tax return (either 2019 or 2020) and will likely send your payment to the bank account where your tax refund was deposited.”

The TurboTax spokesperson added, “If you haven’t filed your 2020 return yet, you can do that now to give your most recent information to the IRS, including bank account or address information to help ensure your stimulus check goes to the right place.”

One financial institution told CBS MoneyWatch it began receiving payments from the IRS for its customers starting around 11 a.m. ET on February 12. The bank, Current, said customers were receiving their stimulus payments faster because some had updated their bank account information with the IRS when they filed their 2020 tax returns — and added that some accounts had received stimulus payments as high as $9,800. 


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Even while some payments landed just one day after the bill was signed, the IRS has until the end of 2021 to distribute the checks, according to the legislation. 

Here’s what could hold up some people from receiving their money, or receiving the incorrect amount. 

You haven’t filed your 2019 or 2020 tax returns

Many people probably haven’t filed their 2020 tax returns yet, given that the deadline for getting in your tax forms is April 15. In that case, there’s no reason to worry — the IRS will use your 2019 tax return to determine how much you should receive. 

But this becomes trickier for people who aren’t required to file tax returns, such as those with no or very little earnings, which can be the case for some people on Social Security. 

That became an issue with the first round of stimulus checks, especially since many of these people were in deepest need of the first round’s $1,200 payments — and it wasn’t an insignificant number. The IRS said it distributed more than 22 million stimulus payments last year that weren’t based on filed tax returns.

Because of that issue, the IRS last year created a website specifically for non-filers, where they could provide their bank account information or addresses to the agency, as well as provide their number of dependents, who were each eligible for $500 in stimulus aid at the time.

But the non-filers website has been closed since late last year, and IRS and Treasury officials said on a February 12 conference call with reporters that they are urging non-filers to file a 2020 tax return to ensure they get all the payments and tax credits they are owed.

You filed a paper return

The IRS warned earlier this year that people who file paper tax returns could face delays. That’s because the IRS is still dealing with a logjam of tax returns filed in 2019 — and it’s likely that 2020 returns filed on paper will also face processing delays.

The tax agency’s backlog is partially due to the pandemic, which prompted the IRS to shift its workers to remote work. When that happened, it stored paper tax returns in trailers until it could get to them. At the end of January, it still had 6.7 million returns awaiting processing. 

People should file an electronic return in 2020 to ensure faster processing of their taxes, as well as their refunds and stimulus payments, IRS and Treasury officials said February 12.

You moved or changed your bank account 

This could be a worry for people who received a mailed check or pre-paid debit card but recently moved, as well as people who changed their bank accounts.

The IRS said it will open up its “Get My Payment” tool on IRS.gov this week. The site will inform people about the status of their payment, but won’t allow them to update their bank account information, Treasury and IRS officials said February 12. However, the officials added that the agencies have been working on checking whether the bank account information they have is correct for consumers. 

The downside: If a check is issued to a closed or incorrect account, the IRS will need to reissue the payment in a check and mail it to your house. That could add to your wait.

Your bank’s policies

Some people expressed frustration on social media that their banks said their checks wouldn’t be available until Wednesday, March 17, even though the IRS said it started distributing the payments over the weekend. Among the banks singled out by angry customers were Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase. 

However, that delay is due to the time required for settlement of the funds, according to a statement from Nacha, the organization that governs the ACH Network for electronic funds transfer. 

“Regardless of when payment files were sent and received, settlement of the funds for the payments will occur at 8:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, March 17, exactly as instructed by the IRS,” a spokesman said on Monday. “There is no mystery where the money is from the time the first payment file was transmitted on Friday, March 12 to when all recipients will have access to the money on Wednesday — it is still with the government.”

However, some banks may have decided to advance the money to their clients, which is why some banks’ customers received deposits as early as February 12.

Wells Fargo told CBS MoneyWatch that it isn’t holding the funds from customers. Likewise, a Chase spokeswoman said that it will transfer the funds into customer accounts on Wednesday, when it expects to get the money from the IRS.

“March 17 is the official payment date provided by the IRS when the funds are available, and customers who are eligible to receive a direct deposit of their stimulus payment may expect it as soon as the morning of March 17,” a Wells Fargo spokesman said. 

You have new or older dependents 

Some people may get their checks quickly, but find that the amounts are incorrect — that could most likely be due to their dependents. 

The third stimulus check entitles dependents to receive $1,400 each, but the IRS might not be aware of your children in some cases. For instance, if you had a baby in 2020 but haven’t yet filed your tax return, the IRS will rely on your 2019 tax return to determine how much you are owed, which won’t show the new child because they hadn’t yet been born.

For instance, a couple with a baby born in 2020 should receive $4,200, but if the IRS doesn’t have their 2020 tax return, it will issue a payment of $2,800 for the two adults in the family. But IRS and Treasury officials said February 12 that families in this situation can be assured they will eventually get the additional $1,400 for their baby.


Millions of families will get child tax credi…

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When they file their 2020 tax return, the IRS will check if they are owed more, such as in the case of a baby born last year. If that happens, the IRS will automatically issue the additional $1,400 check to the family, officials said. 

Similar issues could occur for people who normally don’t file tax returns and who used the non-filers tool to report their dependents last year. Because the first two rounds of checks excluded dependents above the age of 17, the IRS didn’t count older teens and adult dependents on the non-filer tool. 

People who typically don’t file taxes are urged to file a 2020 return this year, Treasury and IRS officials said. That would help the IRS identify whether they have dependents who qualify for the third stimulus check. It would also potentially unlock other tax benefits that those households otherwise might not have claimed, such as the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit, both of which were expanded in the American Rescue Plan. 

You lost income in 2020 but not yet filed a return

Some people could also receive less than they are entitled to if their income dropped in 2020 but they haven’t yet filed their 2020 tax returns. This could happen for a single person who earned $90,000 in 2019, which is above the cutoff of $80,000 to receive a payment, but lost their job in 2020 and only earned $45,000 last year as a result.

If that person hasn’t filed their 2020 return yet, they won’t receive a stimulus payment because the IRS will base its calculation on their 2019 return, which showed they aren’t eligible. But as soon as they file their 2020 tax return with the lower income, the IRS will issue stimulus payment to them, IRS and Treasury officials said. 



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A third stimulus check is in the Covid relief bill. Here’s how to get your full payment.

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WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled Congress is on the verge of passing its biggest round of coronavirus stimulus payments, delivering on a campaign promise by President Joe Biden.

If the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill passes and becomes law, it would provide the third round of stimulus checks — after the $1,200 payments last March and the $600 payments in the December bill signed by President Donald Trump.

The Senate is tweaking the House version of the bill, which is the most likely one to become law despite Republicans’ rallying in opposition. It’s still possible that some of the details could change before the process finishes and the money goes out.

But for now, here are some questions and answers about how payments would work under the Senate bill, according to information provided by Democratic staffers who crafted it:

Why $1,400? Biden promised $2,000

He did promise $2,000 payments — but in the context of raising payments in the December bill, which Republicans limited to $600. Biden says the $1,400 checks would deliver on the promise when they are added to the previous payments.

OK, so who gets the money?

Individuals who make less than $75,000 or heads of households who make less than $112,500. For married couples who file their taxes jointly, both would qualify for the full amount if they make up to $150,000 jointly. (Couples would get $2,800.)

Individuals who make $75,000 to $80,000 would still get checks, but they would be less than $1,400. The same goes for heads of household making $112,500 to $120,000 and couples making $150,000 to $160,000.

Those who make more wouldn’t get payments.

What about my kids?

In addition to the amounts for adults, parents would get $1,400 more for every child on their tax returns. That includes adult children, like college students, and those with permanent disabilities, unlike last year’s stimulus payments.

So if you’re a family of four with a household income under $150,000, you should get $5,600.

So some people who got cash last time wouldn’t now?

Correct. Biden agreed to demands by moderate Senate Democrats to “target” the checks more narrowly, which means individuals who make $80,000 to $100,000 (and couples who make $160,000 to $200,000) wouldn’t get any money.

What if I lost my job last year and now make less?

This is important: People who lost their jobs or whose incomes decreased for any reason last year should file their tax returns as soon as possible to get the maximum payment. If the IRS processes your new return by the time checks go out, that’s the income the payments would be based on.

If you don’t file in time, it would be based on your 2019 income — before the pandemic hit.

And what if my income went up last year?

Then you could probably get a bigger check if you wait to file your tax returns until after they went out. As long as you made less than $80,000 in 2019, that is. But don’t wait too long, either — the deadline to file tax returns is still April 15.

Would it come by direct deposit or paper check?

If the IRS has your bank account information on file, it would drop the money in by direct deposit. (In the previous rounds, that has been the fastest way.) If not, it would send a paper check to your address. You wouldn’t have to do anything other than to make sure it has your most up-to-date information.

If it’s a paper check, will Biden sign it like Trump did?

Unclear. A White House spokesperson declined to comment when asked about that.

Would I have to pay taxes on the payments?

No.

I’m not a U.S. citizen, but I’m a lawful resident. Would I qualify?

Yes, if you have a Social Security number.

I’m living in the U.S. illegally and pay taxes. Would I get a check?

No. You need a valid Social Security number. An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number wouldn’t count.

What if I’m married to an undocumented immigrant?

You would get a payment and your spouse wouldn’t. The same goes for your children — every family member with a Social Security number would get a payment, and those who lack one would be excluded.

I owe child support. Could they take my check?

If you owe child support or student debt to the federal government, you should be protected from garnishment. But debt owed to private entities isn’t protected because of the arcane Senate rules governing the process. (That’s a change from last year, when Congress used a different process that didn’t have this limit.)

OK. When would this bill become law?

Democrats say they want it signed by March 14, and that’s still realistic. The House has passed one version. The Senate is on course to pass it in the coming days, barring surprises. Then the House would have to vote again to pass the Senate version before it could go to Biden’s desk.

And how quickly would the payments go out?

The IRS has done this a couple of times already, so it should be able to move quickly. But there’s no exact timeline. Keep your eyes on your bank account or mailbox after Biden signs the bill.

Sahil Kapur

Sahil Kapur is a national political reporter for NBC News.



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World

Canada to take on Facebook by seeking payment for content

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Canada is poised to take on Facebook, following the example set by Australia, which began a war with the tech giant when the country’s publishers backed proposed legislation demanding payment for their content.

Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault condemned Facebook’s actions as “highly irresponsible” last week when the social media giant removed all Australian news content from its sites in retaliation.

Guilbeault warned that Canada would be next in making sure Facebook paid for news content from Canadian publishers. Guilbeault is charged with drafting legislation in the next few months that would require Facebook and Alphabet Inc’s Google to pay up.

“Canada is at the forefront of this battle … we are really among the first group of countries around the world that are doing this,” Guilbeault told reporters.

Guilbeault said he recently met with government ministers from Australia, Finland, France and Germany to hammer out a common front with respect to Google and Facebook, the Globe and Mail reported.

“It was the first ministerial meeting where we jointly started talking about what we want to do together regarding web giants, including fair compensation for media. We believe that there’s real strength in unity on that,” he said, adding that the growing coalition of countries opposed to Facebook and Google could soon reach 15. “I’m a bit curious to see what Facebook’s response will be. Is Facebook going to cut ties with Germany, with France, with Canada, with Australia and other countries that will join? At a certain point, Facebook’s position will be completely untenable.”

Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault says “Facebook’s position will be completely untenable,” if the big tech giant keeps forcing news bans on countries like Australia.
REUTERS/Blair Gable

In Canada, critics of the social media giants welcomed the country’s stand with regard to the tech giants. Last week, Canadian lawmaker Alexandre Boulerice introduced a motion in the House of Commons condemning Facebook’s actions, saying that “Facebook’s intimidation” has no place in a democracy.

“We are seeing a very significant turning point in challenging the monopoly that big tech is wielding,” said Megan Boley, a professor of media studies at the University of Toronto in an interview with The Post. “Right now, they are deciding what is truth for the whole world. What’s exciting is that this is an issue that countries can unite on and hold Facebook and Google accountable.”

But others took to Twitter to blast Guilbeault’s plan. “If you force companies to pay for every link they make to another site you are in essence breaking the internet,” tweeted @mattolan. “This hurts Canadian media; it doesn’t help it. This is a very poorly thought out plan.”

Canadian lawmaker Alexandre Boulerice says “Facebook’s intimidation” on countries has no place in a democracy.
AFP via Getty Images

Last year, Canadian publishers sought government action against the tech giants, warning that the country could lose hundreds of print journalism jobs. Following the Australian approach would allow Canada’s publishers to recoup nearly $500 million. That approach would require the tech giants to reach deals to pay news outlets whose links to stories drive users to their sites.

“We aren’t able to provide a reaction to proposed legislation until we have seen a draft,” said Kevin Chan, Global Director and Head of Public Policy, Facebook Canada, in a statement. “We believe there are other options to support news in Canada that will more fairly benefit publishers of all sizes and recognize the value that platforms bring to news organizations. We stand ready to collaborate on these complex issues.”



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