facebook News Block During newfoundland Fires Sparks Calls for Intervention
St. John’s, NL – August 20, 2025 – As uncontrolled wildfires ravage Newfoundland and Labrador, destroying hundreds of structures and prompting residents too rely on social media for updates, the ongoing block of Canadian news content on Facebook is facing renewed scrutiny. Tony Wakeham, leader of the Progressive-Conservative party of Newfoundland and Labrador, has formally requested that Ottawa intervene with Meta – the parent company of Facebook and Instagram – to restore news sharing capabilities, particularly during crises.
Wakeham argues that the inability to share local media content on facebook is fueling the spread of misinformation and rumors at a time when accurate,timely details is critical. “In the event of a natural disaster or a crisis, nothing should prevent governments and journalists from informing the population of what is happening on the ground,” Wakeham wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
the news block stems from the online News Act, passed by the Trudeau goverment in 2023. This legislation aims to compel digital giants like Meta to compensate Canadian news organizations for the use of their content on their platforms. In response, Meta removed Canadian news content from Facebook and instagram, effectively preventing users from sharing news articles.
The timing of this block is particularly problematic given the current wildfire situation. Residents are turning to Facebook for information, but are rather encountering a void where credible news sources should be. This situation highlights the potential dangers of restricting access to information during emergencies. Wakeham is urging the federal government to engage with Meta to find a compromise that allows news content to be shared during times of crisis, ensuring the public has access to reliable information.
