Photo Via CPAC
Meta has blocked Canadian local news on its social media, and now amid the unprecedented wildfires in the country, there have been reports that some of the tens of thousands affected are having difficulty accessing essential information.
Roughly 30,000 have been evacuated in British Columbia and 20,000 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said keeping people up to date with information is unbelievably essential.
“It is so inconceivable that a company like Facebook it’s choosing to put corporate profits ahead of ensuring that local news organizations can get up to date information to Canadians and reach them where Canadians spend a lot of their time…online…on social media,” Trudeau told reporters.
He went on to say “that right now in an emergency situation, where up to date, local information is more important than ever…Facebook is putting local profits ahead of people’s safety, ahead of local journalism… this is not the time for that.”
Meta started blocking Canadian news outlets from posting on its platform this month after the government passed bill C-18. It’s a law that requires tech companies to compensate media organizations for Canadian news posted on their platforms.
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