Meta decided to block local news from Facebook and Instagram after the Canadian parliament approved the “Online News Act“, forcing companies like Meta and Google to negotiate with local publishers. About three weeks after the move, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed the company for blocking news about wildfires.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, wildfires are ravaging Canada’s British Columbia province and more than 35,000 people have been driven out of their homes over the past four days.
What Trudeau has to say
Trudeau said that Meta is prioritising corporate profits. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said that the Online News Act “is based on the incorrect premise that Meta benefits unfairly from news content shared on our platforms when the reverse is true.”
“It is so inconceivable that a company like Facebook is choosing to put corporate profits ahead of ensuring that local news organisations can get up-to-date information to Canadians and reach them,” Trudeau said.
“In a larger picture, that’s bad for democracy because democracy depends on people being able to trust high-quality journalism and of all sorts of different perspectives and points of view,” The prime minister added.
“But right now, in an emergency situation, up-to-date local information is more important than ever,” he noted.
Meanwhile, reports said that Meta was standing by its decision saying that people in Canada can continue to use Facebook and Instagram “to connect with their communities and access reputable information, including content from officials.”
Online News Act
Meta and Google decided to block Canadian users from viewing news posted on their platforms after the passage of the Online News Act which forces the companies to strike a deal with local publishers and pay them.
Both Meta and Google rejected the act and chose to block news content, including news articles, videos and audio posted on the platforms for users in Canada. Links posted by Canadian outlets are visible in other countries.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, wildfires are ravaging Canada’s British Columbia province and more than 35,000 people have been driven out of their homes over the past four days.
What Trudeau has to say
Trudeau said that Meta is prioritising corporate profits. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said that the Online News Act “is based on the incorrect premise that Meta benefits unfairly from news content shared on our platforms when the reverse is true.”
“It is so inconceivable that a company like Facebook is choosing to put corporate profits ahead of ensuring that local news organisations can get up-to-date information to Canadians and reach them,” Trudeau said.
“In a larger picture, that’s bad for democracy because democracy depends on people being able to trust high-quality journalism and of all sorts of different perspectives and points of view,” The prime minister added.
“But right now, in an emergency situation, up-to-date local information is more important than ever,” he noted.
Meanwhile, reports said that Meta was standing by its decision saying that people in Canada can continue to use Facebook and Instagram “to connect with their communities and access reputable information, including content from officials.”
Online News Act
Meta and Google decided to block Canadian users from viewing news posted on their platforms after the passage of the Online News Act which forces the companies to strike a deal with local publishers and pay them.
Both Meta and Google rejected the act and chose to block news content, including news articles, videos and audio posted on the platforms for users in Canada. Links posted by Canadian outlets are visible in other countries.