According to Reuters, the Canadian government has requested that Meta lift its ban on the distribution of local news on its platforms, citing worries over the potential impact on vital information regarding wildfires in the country's western region.
In response to a new rule mandating internet corporations to pay for news stories, Meta recently placed a news filter on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for all Canadian users. Residents of the isolated northern town of Yellowknife have complained to domestic media outlets that the ban has hindered them from sharing important fire-related details via these platforms while they are dealing with wildfires.
The decision made by Meta was criticized by Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge as "reckless" and detrimental to the accessibility of important material on Facebook and Instagram.
She said, "Meta's reckless choice to block news ... is hurting access to vital information on Facebook and Instagram," reported Reuters.
She emphasized the necessity for additional news in this urgent crisis and pleaded with Meta to resume news sharing right once for the safety of Canadians dealing with this calamity.
Pablo Rodriguez, the minister of transportation, reiterated these worries and emphasized how the ban prevented people from accessing essential information. Liberal Party lawmaker Chris Bittle referred to Meta's activities as "reckless and irresponsible" in his condemnation of them.
Ollie Williams, who runs Yellowknife's Cabin Radio digital station, stated that people had resorted to posting screenshots of Facebook content because they were unable to share links to news feeds.
In response, a Meta representative informed the public through email that the firm has enabled Facebook's "Safety Check" feature, which enables users to let others know they are safe during emergencies or natural catastrophes.
The representative also said that official government entities, emergency services, and non-governmental organizations could still be found on Facebook and Instagram. Users don't typically utilize Meta's platform for news, according to the company, and making it pay for shared information would be unsustainable from a commercial standpoint.
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