Canada’s Transport Minister Urges Meta to Lift Ban on Domestic News

Canada’s transport minister called on Meta on Friday to lift the ban on domestic news so that Canadians can share developments regarding the ongoing wildfires in the west.

Meta started blocking news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for all users in Canada this month in response to a new law requiring internet giants to pay for news articles. Some people fleeing wildfires in the remote northern town of Yellowknife have complained to domestic media that the ban prevented them from sharing important data about the fires.

Unacceptable Actions by Meta

“What Meta is doing now is completely unacceptable … we see that due to this ban, people do not have access to information that is absolutely crucial,” Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez told a briefing. “I demand that Meta reverse this decision,” continued Rodriguez, who in his previous role as heritage minister oversaw the legislation requiring payment for articles.

Chris Bittle, a legislator for the ruling Liberal Party, complained on Thursday that “Meta’s actions to block news are reckless and irresponsible.”

Meta’s Response

In response, a Meta spokesperson said the company had activated the “Safety Check” feature on Facebook that allows users to spread the word that they are safe in the wake of a natural disaster or a crisis.