In the midst of a showdown with Facebook over a new law on online press, the Canadian Prime Minister is now seizing the issue of fires to bend the social network.
To show its opposition to a recently adopted Canadian law, Facebook has simply decided to remove access to the press on its platform. This decision is now fraught with consequences, because many Canadians used the social network to get information, especially in emergency situations such as the fires that are currently ravaging much of the country.
Meta’s opposition to the Online Act
1er last August, despite intensive lobbying by Meta to try to prevent it, a new law was passed in Canada. This requires the major Internet platforms to negotiate agreements with the newspapers and other press sites whose articles they share and to pay them part of the income generated. It is not the only country to create such legislation, a similar rule has existed for example in France since 2019 (and also provoked strong reactions from Google at the time).
But apparently for Facebook and Instagram to share part of their revenue with other entities is simply unthinkable, so much so that Meta considers this law ” fundamentally flawed “. And to show its opposition to its adoption, or to avoid having to comply with its directives, the company has simply decided to prevent the publication of press articles on its social networks in Canada. The decision, of course, was strongly criticized by most members of the Canadian government, especially since the law has not yet come into force.
But this summer, Canada, like much of the world, is the victim of numerous and terrible fires. And for many, the blackout on news articles decided by Meta in the country is simply irresponsible. Justin Trudeau in the lead.
Justin Trudeau takes advantage
The Canadian Prime Minister did not mince his words with regard to the giant of social networks, which he accuses of wanting to put its profits before the lives and the safety of people. While this statement can be seen as a little cynical and opportunistic on his part, since the two events are not directly related, it is true that 77% of Canadians use Facebook, and that about a quarter of these s inform on the social network. Meta, which continues to try to prevent the entry into force of the law, defends itself from its accusations and also explains that it has activated its famous Safety Check in the regions concerned, which allows the inhabitants of the disaster areas to report that they are safe.
In any case, it is difficult to prove Justin Trudeau completely wrong: Facebook is accused of complicity in crimes against humanity in not one, but two different countries. Amnesty International believes that it was the company’s drive for growth and profit at all costs that led to these disasters.
Source : BBC
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