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By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Facebook’s refusal to pause its war on Canada during wildfires is callous

Aug 23, 2023 | 5:02 AM

A FORMER CONSERVATIVE POLITICIAN responded to a comment I made on Facebook a few days ago. In posting about a column I’d written, I said that since Facebook was waging war on Canada, I would be unable to post the link, and suggested they access it directly on the Internet.

This person objected to my characterization, saying, “I think it is important to note that the lack of a link is not a war launched by Facebook but a very poorly thought-out piece of legislation (C18) by our current federal government.”

I wonder what she’d think now, after Meta’s refusal to call a truce in order to help the fight against wildfires that are destroying homes and communities so close to us.

Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier David Eby are blasting Meta over its callous position. Trudeau said Facebook “is choosing to put corporate profits ahead of ensuring that local news organizations can get up-to-date information to Canadians.”

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Eby called it “unacceptable” and “astonishing” that Facebook and Instagram have not opened up their platforms during the crisis.

Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez formally asked Meta to reverse itself in order to help ensure people receive timely and crucial information about the wildfires, especially evacuation orders.

Other politicians at all levels have been asking the same thing. Words such as “reprehensible” and “dangerous” are being used.

Meta won’t budge, despite the fact provisions of the Online News Act requiring that news outlets be paid for the platforms’ use of news material don’t even come into effect until the end of the year.

Surely, Mark Zuckerberg and his cohorts could exhibit some compassion and social conscience by putting a pause on their war — yes, war — on Canada. Certainly, we can access news directly from websites but in this time of crisis, all methods of getting information are crucial.

And what do the federal Conservatives have to say on the subject? Crickets.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.