ACTION NEEDED: Urge Meta to stop blocking news in Canada

Time to Act: ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ You're getting this message because you’ve supported good causes and Democratic candidates. We need your support to continue fighting for our democracy. We love having you in our network, but if you no longer wish to hear from us, you can [unsubscribe here](. In retaliation for the passage of the Online News Act in June – a new Canadian law requiring tech companies to compensate news publishers – Meta is now blocking news content on Facebook in Canada, even during massive wildfires. {NAME}, the urgency of access to accurate news cannot be overstated. [Please join us in asking Meta to stop blocking news articles on Facebook and Instagram in Canada, sign our petition right now →]( [ADD YOUR NAME NOW!]( {NAME}, Meta's news blockade in Canada persists, even when Canada is grappling with its worst wildfire season on record. [1] In retaliation for the passage of the Online News Act in June – a new law in Canada that requires tech companies to compensate news publishers for their content – Meta blocked news content on Facebook in Canada, even as the devastating Yellowknife fires took place. [2] The urgency of access to accurate news cannot be overstated. By blocking news articles, Meta is cutting vulnerable Canadians off from potentially life-saving information. As one of the leading organizations that advocates for transparency, accountability, and oversight of Big Tech giants, Accountable Tech is sounding the alarm. [Add your name to: Tell Meta to stop blocking news articles on Facebook in Canada.]( [ADD YOUR NAME!]( This is not the first time Meta has cut off news links in a specific country. Recently, the company temporarily blocked news sharing in Australia, only to relent after public outrage. [3] This pattern of holding news content hostage to evade regulatory measures is unacceptable and indicative of Meta's disregard for the vital role that news plays in our society. Whether Meta likes it or not, they're a huge part of how news is shared across the globe. The suppression of news articles damages democracy, puts people at risk during disasters, punishes the free press, and erodes trust in the social media platforms we rely on for information. [We can not afford to let this precedent stand – add your name to urge Meta to reverse course and stop blocking critical news articles in Canada.]( Big Tech giants such as Meta have outsized control over our information ecosystem and news distribution, which coupled with their apparent disregard for anything beyond profits is deeply concerning. As climate-caused fires continue – whether on Maui or in Canada – we cannot let Big Tech companies dictate our access to reliable news coverage. Thanks for joining us and speaking out, Nicole Gill Co-founder and Executive Director Accountable Tech 1. BBC News: [( 2.CBC Canada: [( 3. AP: [( Cliff Schecter President, Blue Amp Action Amplify Good Follow Us Blue Amp Strategies 1776 Mentor Ave. #411 | Norwood, Ohio 45212 513.438.0171 | info@blueampaction.com Having trouble viewing this email? [View it in your web browser]( About BlueAmp Action: We cannot sugarcoat the current situation. Right-wing authoritarianism, defeated by a worldwide coalition during WWII, was only in hibernation. Over the past decade it has infected democratic societies--including ours. It is as simple as it is terrifying: What we do now will define the future of our country and world. We at Blue Amp Action are dedicated to liberal, open societies, where reason and science are applied to solve our problems; where civil rights--including voting rights!--are protected for all. We fight for these values every day. Speaking up on our platforms, raising the voices and the political prospects of liberal pols and pundits. And savvy grassroots activists like you know, just like we do, that we can’t stop watching the people we help elect: after the elections, we have to keep organizing support for the policies we like and pushing back against the ones we don’t. When the public tunes out between elections and the only people our elected officials hear from are the paid lobbyists of wealthy corporations, our government stops being accountable to the needs of ordinary families. Democracy never sleeps, and neither can we. So we ask that you support our work, so we can continue to engage in this fight every moment of every day. So our kids grow up in democracy, not dystopia. Thank you for your support for all we do! Please follow Cliff Schecter on Twitter @cliffschecter, or subscribe to The Takedown with Cliff Schecter on YouTube, to keep up to date with this battle for the heart and soul of our country. — You're getting this message because you’ve supported good causes and Democratic candidates. We need your support to continue fighting for our democracy. We love having you in our network, but if you no longer wish to hear from us, you can [unsubscribe here](. [Unsubscribe]( or [Manage Your Preferences](