The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, atOn Monday, he criticized Meta for banning local news on its platforms as the fires raged and said that in times of crisis it was crucial to have up-to-date information.
“Facebook puts corporate profits ahead of people’s safety,” he said during a televised news conference in the Atlantic province of Prince Edward Island.adding that the company's actions were “inconceivable.”
Trudeau's comments represent a new government attack on Meta Meta.O, which this month began blocking news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for all users in Canada in response to a new law forcing internet giants to pay for news articles.
Federal cabinet ministers last week called the ban reckless and irresponsible. Some people fleeing the fires complained that the ban prevented them from sharing important data about the fires.
“It's time to expect more from companies like Facebook, which are making billions of dollars on the backs of Canadians. »» said Trudeau.
Meta was not immediately available for comment.
A company spokesperson previously emphasized that Canadians can continue to access information from official government agencies, emergency services and non-governmental organizations on the platform.
Facebook also enabled the “Safety Check” feature, which allows users to broadcast that they are safe after a natural disaster or crisis.
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