Remember when Canada passed that law to prop up their state-"supported" media and force social media companies to pay for the privilege of letting people share links to stories on their site?
Remember how Meta turned off the ability to share news on Facebook and Instagram?
Well, mess around, meet find out.
It turns out that when your country is on fire, and you're trying to evacuate tens of thousands of people (like Canada is right now) then it's a life-saving imperative to have an easy way to share information and news, like on a social media company.
Canada's transportation minister is now begging Meta to reverse its decision to not allow sharing links to Canadian news.
Pablo Rodriguez, Canada's transportation minister said,
"What Meta is doing currently is unacceptable. We've seen that, throughout this emergency, Canadians have not had access to the crucial information they need. So, I ask Meta to reverse its decision, allow Canadians to have access to news on their platforms."
The minister of Canadian heritage called them reckless.
I think it would be great if the social media companies allowed news through in the middle of this disaster. It could save lives.
However, while the Canadian politicians wail about the evil corporations putting people in harm's way, Canada isn't reversing its decision to charge them for sharing those life-saving links.
Towns and cities in affected areas are trying to circumvent their federal government's war with big tech and save their citizens, but they're finding it difficult.
The Facebook page for the city of Yellowknife urged residents Thursday to search Google for the website of their local Canadian broadcast channel.
"Due to the recent change in Legislation, the City is unable to share the link because it's a media source," the municipality wrote.
Of course, there's one problem: Canada sees Google as a social media source, so Google has limited Canadian news too.
Who knows how many Canadians will be injured or killed thanks to their government's socialist tyranny?
But at least these companies are paying their "fair share."
By paying nothing at all.
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