This is very off topic for a Star Trek focused instance, but I thought some of the Quark’s regulars might be interested in the public interest issues raised in this situation.
For context, the Canadian federal Parliament passed legislation that would tax very large internet aggregator platforms that monetize news links without entering into payment arrangements with news sources. The law is not yet in effect, and the regulations make that work that haven’t even been put out for formal public consultation (a lengthy process). Meta and X have proactively blocked links to anything they believe are Canadian news sites. This includes access to the Canadian Parliamentary Access Channel (CPAC) and the national public broadcaster CBC and other private sources that are carrying required emergency broadcasts.
cross-posted from: https://startrek.website/post/967873
The NWT government and city of Yellowknife are describing in tweets, Instagram messages etc. how to search key evacuation information on CPAC and CBC. The broadcast carriers have a duty to carry emergency information, but Meta and X are blocking links.
While internet access is reportedly limited in Yellowknife, residents are finding this a barrier to getting current and accurate information. Even links to CBC radio are blocked.
What? Meta and its ilk pulled this just to be petty? I don’t understand how behavior like this doesn’t result in an immediate exodus from those platforms. At least as fast as is possible.
Not sure I would quite call it petty, but Meta is determined to use whatever market power it has to make sure no government outside the US has jurisdiction.
As they did in Australia, they are trying to put pressure on the national government to back down. They’re a bad actor in the antitrust sense and seem to be determined to demonstrate that.
Which is exactly why there is a strong case that only governments can set the ground rules for platforms like Meta’s, and should.
While local news sources, dependent on Meta, have mixed views on the legislation, there’s a possibility that this behaviour may only serve to motivate Canada’s Parliament to pass further legislation to require internet social media platforms to disseminate and link through news and information during public emergencies in the same way private broadcasters and cable carriers already are.