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In
retaliation for the passage of the Online News Act in June – a new
Canadian law requiring tech companies to compensate news publishers –
Meta is now blocking news content on Facebook in Canada, even during
massive wildfires.
Friend, the urgency of access to accurate news cannot be overstated.
Please join us in asking Meta to stop blocking news articles on Facebook and Instagram in Canada, sign our petition right now →
Hi friend –
Meta's news blockade in Canada persists, even when Canada is grappling with its worst wildfire season on record.1
In
retaliation for the passage of the Online News Act in June – a new law
in Canada that requires tech companies to compensate news publishers
for their content – Meta blocked news content on Facebook in Canada,
even as the devastating Yellowknife fires took place.2
The
urgency of access to accurate news cannot be overstated. By blocking
news articles, Meta is cutting vulnerable Canadians off from potentially
life-saving information. As one of the leading organizations
that advocates for transparency, accountability, and oversight of Big
Tech giants, Accountable Tech is sounding the alarm. Add your name to: Tell Meta to stop blocking news articles on Facebook in Canada.
This
is not the first time Meta has cut off news links in a specific
country. Recently, the company temporarily blocked news sharing in
Australia, only to relent after public outrage.3 This pattern
of holding news content hostage to evade regulatory measures is
unacceptable and indicative of Meta's disregard for the vital role that
news plays in our society.
Whether
Meta likes it or not, they're a huge part of how news is shared across
the globe. The suppression of news articles damages democracy, puts
people at risk during disasters, punishes the free press, and erodes
trust in the social media platforms we rely on for information. We
can not afford to let this precedent stand – your name to urge Meta to
reverse course and stop blocking critical news articles in Canada.
Big
Tech giants such as Meta have outsized control over our information
ecosystem and news distribution, which coupled with their apparent
disregard for anything beyond profits is deeply concerning. As
climate-caused fires continue – whether on Maui or in Canada – we cannot
let Big Tech companies dictate our access to reliable news coverage.
Thanks for joining us and speaking out,
Nicole Gill
Co-founder and Executive Director
Accountable Tech.
1. BBC News : https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-wildfire-season-worst-ever-more-to-come-1.6934284
2. CBC Canada : https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/nwt-wildfire-evacuation-meta-blocking-news-1.6939286
3. AP : https://apnews.com/article/facebook-continues-news-block-australia-e0b545d3ba541c2de8389c6bd0a6f23f
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