REUTERS/Johanna Geron/Illustration/File PhotoOTTAWA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Canadian news industry groups on Tuesday asked the country's antitrust regulator to investigate Meta Platforms' (META.O) decision to block news on its platforms in the country, accusing the Facebook parent of abusing its dominant position. Meta started blocking news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for all users in Canada last week in response to a law requiring internet giants to pay for news articles. The application was filed by industry bodies News Media Canada and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, along with public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada, and asks the Competition Bureau to investigate Meta and stop it from blocking news. A spokesperson for Meta referred to a statement issued last week, in which the company said the Canadian law was based on "the incorrect premise that Meta benefits unfairly from news content shared on our platforms." Google has also said it will block news in Canada by the time the rules come into effect.

---

Persons: Johanna Geron, Meta, Ismail Shakil, Zaheer Kachwala, Maju Samuel, Deepa Babington, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, OTTAWA, Tuesday, Facebook, Meta, Canada's, News Media Canada, Canadian Association of Broadcasters, CBC, Radio, Canada, Bureau, Google, Thomson Locations: Canada, Ottawa, Bengaluru