maaxx.ca

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Canada calls Facebook reckless because it carelessly blocks information. The Meta-owned social media platform has been ordered to unblock itself so Canadians can share information about the wildfires.

Canadian government officials, according to Reuters, Last Friday, Meta was asked to end its “superficial” blocking of national news on Facebook and Instagram.

Meta began blocking news on Facebook and Instagram in Canada this month. The news blocking move is Meta’s response to new rules that require internet platforms to pay media companies compensation for the use of news articles.

According to Reuters, Canadians fleeing wildfires in western Canada are complaining about the actions of Facebook and Instagram. According to refugees, the information blockade makes it difficult to obtain important information and data related to the wildfires.

“Meta’s reckless choice to block news… disrupts access to vital information on Facebook and Instagram,” said Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge. “We asked them to restore today’s news sharing feature to keep Canadians safe in the event of an emergency. Now more than ever, we need more news, not less.”

Canadian Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez previously said that information blocking meant citizens did not have access to important information.

Canadian MP Chriss Bittle previously complained that Meta’s actions to block information were “reckless and irresponsible.”

Ollie Williams, who runs a radio station in an area hit by wildfires, said local residents got around Facebook’s news blocking by sharing information using screenshots from their cell phones . Facebook users in Canada can no longer share news links on the platform.

A Mete spokesperson said the company had enabled the “Safety Check” feature on Facebook so that users of the platform could report that they were safe.

Canadians, he continued, can also access content from government agencies, emergency services and non-governmental organizations.

(dem)