The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeauattacked Monday against Aim for banning local news from their platforms as the fires rage and said that in times of crisis, having up-to-date information is crucial.
“Facebook puts corporate profits ahead of people’s safety,” he said during a televised news conference in the Atlantic province of P.E.I., adding that the company’s actions were “inconceivable”.
Trudeau’s comments represent a new attack by the Canadian government on Meta, which this month began blocking information on its Facebook and Facebook platforms. Instagram 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 that are making billions of dollars on the backs of Canadians,” Trudeau said.
Meta was not immediately available for comment.
A company spokesperson previously indicated that Canadians can continue to access information from official government agencies, emergency services and non-governmental organizations on the platform.
Facebook has also enabled the feature “Security controle”which allows users to let people know they are safe after a natural disaster or crisis.
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