Reporters Without Borders condemns Meta’s attempt to blackmail Canadian news media

Reporters Without Borders condemns Meta’s blackmail attempt to prevent news media access to its platforms, Facebook and Instagram if Bill C-18 is approved, which directly threatens the survival of Canadian media as well as access to news and information.

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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have criticised Meta’s attempt to blackmail news media by threatening to block access to its Facebook and Instagram platforms if Bill C-18 is passed in Canada. This move directly endangers the survival of Canadian media outlets and public access to news and information. Instead of trying to influence public policy in its favour, Meta should focus on demonstrating its ability to play a positive role in the fight against disinformation and for access to diverse sources of information, according to Vincent Berthier, Head of RSF’s Tech Desk. Meta is strongly opposed to the provisions of the bill under discussion, which propose that the platforms should negotiate an agreement with news media for the right to publish their content.