"Experts Condemn Meta's Canada News Ban as a Democracy Disaster"

Experts are criticizing social media giant Meta's decision to ban news access on its platforms in Canada, warning that it could harm journalism, promote misinformation, and spread fake news. Meta's move is in response to a new law, the Online News Act, which aims to support Canadian journalism outlets by requiring platforms like Meta and Google to contribute financially. The ban has already resulted in users being unable to share news links from both Canadian and non-Canadian outlets. Media experts fear that this could create a void filled by disreputable sources, exacerbating the spread of misinformation. The ban also poses challenges for small and independent media outlets that rely on social media for readership. Critics argue that limiting news access on social media platforms undermines democracy and could have implications for politics and elections.