Replies

boris, 10 months ago to canada

I hit my first instance of Meta blocking Canadian news content.

Rachael sent me a story from #CBCVancouver via Instagram messages.

The thumbnail is visible in messages (1), but when I click, I get the restricted message (2)

I wasn’t following the CBCVancouver account, and when I search for and visit the profile, I get a different message (3)

I guess Rachael hasn’t had this rolled out to her account yet.

Remember, there are no good guys in this #BillC18 debacle.

@canada

(2) Clicking on the thumbnail in Instagram messages results in this illustration of a closed lock and the following text: Restricted Photo This photo is not available in your country. (See why) is a link. Clicking on it gives a pop over with generic info saying the content is illegal in my country.
(3) Visiting the CBC Vancouver profile shows the header and description as per normal. 187K followers Instead of recent posts, there’s an illustration of a newspaper with a circle and cross through it 🚫 and the following text. People in Canada can't see this content In response to Canadian government legislation, news content can't be viewed in Canada. (Learn more) is a link.

DerisionConsulting, 10 months ago

Remember, there are no good guys in this #BillC18 debacle.

We disagree on this point, I think the news orgs are the good guys.

Why? Because groups like Meta are profiting from scaping the site without compensation. It’s not like Meta is simply showing the headline and thumbnail, they are showing some of the content from the article itself.

Meta’s not giving free promotion, they are profiting off of the content of others.

Edit: it looks like the information that Facebook shows is consensual via “Open Graph”