Amidst devastating wildfires in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused Facebook of prioritizing profits over people's safety by blocking news content.

Facebook's decision to ban news on its platform is in response to a Canadian law that mandates sharing profits with news outlets. Evacuees affected by the wildfires have expressed how the news ban hampers their ability to share crucial information.

Meta, Facebook's parent company, has criticized the law as "fundamentally flawed."

During a televised news conference, Prime Minister Trudeau deemed Meta's actions as "unthinkable." Since August 1st, Meta has blocked news on both Facebook and Instagram in Canada due to the passing of an online news bill by the country's parliament.

This bill mandates platforms like Google and Meta to negotiate agreements with news publishers for content.

Canadian officials have heavily criticized Meta's decision. Canada's heritage minister, Pascale St-Onge, highlighted on social media that the company is blocking essential information despite the fact that the law, known as Bill C-18 or the Online News Act, hasn't taken effect yet. Meta referred to the law as "fundamentally flawed legislation" that overlooks how their platforms function.

Meta explained to the BBC that the law forces them to restrict access to news content in order to comply with the legislation. Additionally, Meta activated a "Safety Check" feature on its platform for individuals residing in evacuated areas.

This allows users to mark themselves safe and access "reputable information, including content from official government agencies", a spokesperson said.

Evacuees in the Northwest Territories, where a wildfire continues to rage 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from its largest city Yellowknife, said the news ban has made it harder for them to spread life-saving information with their network.

Delaney Poitras, who has had to evacuate twice in recent weeks from her home in Fort Smith, told the CBC that she has not been able to share things like news conferences from officials or news articles on evacuation updates.

She adds that Facebook plays a huge role in connecting people in her community. "It's how we all keep in touch," she said.

Data suggests that about 77% of Canadians use Facebook, and one in four of those users rely on it for news.

Please send me the picture of your post

"Facebook plays a huge role in connecting people" what an amazing role in helping people.

Not good enough.