![The rivalry between Canada and Meta over the country's Online News Act has escalated once again as wildfires rage in British Columbia.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CLEAN-Canada_Meta_feud_over_online_news_accentuated_by_raging_wildfires_Reuters_featuredImage_Mon-Aug-21-20231.jpg?w=1920)
THE DISPUTE BETWEEN META AND CANADA — WHICH LED TO THE TECH GIANT DISABLING DOMESTIC NEWS ACCESS TO ITS PLATFORMS — IS IMPACTING CANADIAN COMMUNITIES RAVAGED BY WILDFIRES.
RESIDENTS WHO USED TO GET NEWS AND ALERTS FROM FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM — NO LONGER HAD ACCESS TO IT AS HISTORIC WILDFIRES SWEPT THROUGH.
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT DEMANDED META TO LIFT ITS ACCESS-BAN IN THE COUNTRY WHILE THE PLATFORM WAS NEEDED TO HELP PROVIDE VITAL INFORMATION TO PEOPLE THREATENED BY FAST-MOVING FIRES.
IN RESPONSE — META RE-INSTATED LIMITED ACCESS — USERS COULD ONCE AGAIN USE THE “SAFETY CHECK” FEATURE TO MARK THEMSELVES AS “SAFE” IN THE WAKE OF A NATURAL DISASTER.
USERS CAN ALSO ACCESS OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY PAGES FOR THE LATEST EMERGENCY UPDATES ON EVACUATIONS AND WILDFIRE CONTAINMENT.
META RELEASED A STATEMENT — STANDING BY THEIR DECISION TO DISABLE ACCESS TO ITS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN RESPONSE TO A LAW CANADA PASSED THAT REQUIRES SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES TO NOW **PAY FOR NEWS CONTENT SHARED ON ITS SITES.
META SAYS FORCING THE COMPANY TO PAY FOR CONTENT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR ITS BUSINESS.