Hi there --

Meta's news blockade in Canada persists amidst raging wildfires. [1]

As a result of 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 has blocked news content on Facebook, even during the devastating Yellowknife fires. [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. Add your name: Tell Meta to stop blocking news articles on Facebook in Canada.

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This is not the first time Meta has done this. In the past, 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.

As I shared with CBC Canada, whether Meta likes it or not, they're a part of how news is shared across the globe. The suppression of news articles damages democracy, punishes the free press, and erodes trust in the social media platforms we rely on for information. Add your name to urge Meta to stop blocking critical news articles in Canada.

Big Tech giants such as Meta have major control over our information ecosystem and news distribution, which coupled with their apparent disregard for anything beyond profits is deeply concerning. As climate disasters continue – whether in Hawaii, California, or Canada – we cannot let Big Tech companies dictate our access to reliable news coverage.

Thanks for speaking out,

Nicole Gill
Co-founder and Executive Director
Accountable Tech

1. BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66535401
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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