Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday accused Facebook of prioritizing economic profit over public safety during the emergency created by Canada’s record wildfire season.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced earlier this year that it would keep its promise to block Canadian news content from its platforms due to a new law that forces tech giants to pay publishers to link or reuse your content on the Internet.

The fires ravaging Canada have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes and endangered cities like Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. Some 30,000 people in British Columbia have been ordered to evacuate.

“Right now, in an emergency where up-to-date local information is more important than ever, Facebook is putting profits ahead of public safety,” Trudeau said at a press conference in Cornwall. Prince Edward Island.

“It is inconceivable that a company like Facebook would choose corporate profits over ensuring that local news organizations can provide up-to-the-minute information to Canadians,” added the Prime Minister.

Government ministers on Friday asked Meta to lift its restrictions on Canadian news, which apply to local and national media such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Northern California-based Meta defended its decision, saying in a statement about the fires that Canadians can continue to use Instagram and Facebook “to connect with their community and access information from trusted sources, including the content from agencies”. non-governmental organizations”.

Canadian residents and visitors may not view or share any news on Meta-owned networks, including articles, videos or audio files posted by news outlets inside or outside of Canada.

The law on online information, adopted at the end of June after long debates, should come into force later this year.

“It’s Facebook’s decision,” Trudeau said. “In a democracy, quality local journalism matters, and it matters more than ever today, as people worry for their homes, for their communities, for the worst summer for extreme events we’ve had. known for a long time.”