After receiving reams of critical feedback and returning to the draft with the help of experts in recent months, sources close to the file tell CTVNews.ca that the government is still considering how to approach the complex “cybersecurity” legislation in a way that addresses the concerns of critics, while addressing the state of online discourse.
The pledge was launched with the intention of forcing “online communication service providers” such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to be more accountable and transparent in their handling of five types of harmful content on their platforms: hate speech , child exploitation. , sharing non-consensual images, incitement to violence and terrorism.
The intention of the Liberals was to ensure that the kinds of behavior that are illegal in person are also illegal online, with an emphasis on public content rather than private communication.
“Online platforms are increasingly important for participation in democratic, cultural and public life. However, such platforms can also be used to threaten and intimidate Canadians and promote views that target communities, endanger the safety of people and undermine Canada’s social cohesion or democracy,” says the government’s landing page for this initiative.
“Now, more than ever, online services must be held accountable for addressing harmful content on their platforms and creating a safe online space that protects all Canadians,” he continues.
In addition to seeking expert advice, this summer Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and top officials in his department traveled across the country holding panel discussions with stakeholders and representatives from minority groups.
Public hearings aimed at capturing the concerns of Canadians – particularly those in marginalized communities – are set to continue through the fall, sources said, adding that this ongoing approach is intended to help inform the scope of the legislation.
PASSED PROMISE DEADLINE, FOCUS ON GETTING IT RIGHT
The Liberals have already gone beyond their campaign pledge to push through a “balanced and targeted” online harm bill within the first 100 days of their post-2021 mandate.
Amidst this increased attention and the significant work that remains before the bill is completed, CTVNews.ca asked when Canadians could expect to see a bill introduced in Parliament, and in an emailed response, Rodriguez’s office would not commit. on a timetable, saying the government’s priority is fixing the legislation.
“The minister is now engaging directly with Canadians across the country about the knowledge provided by the experts,” said Heritage Minister spokeswoman Laura Scaffidi. “Canadians should be able to express themselves freely and openly without fear of harm online… We are committed to getting this right and engaging Canadians in a thorough, open and transparent manner every step of the way.”
Despite a reluctance to put a timeline on the bill’s tabling, sources told CTVNews.ca it’s unlikely this fall, with early 2023 appearing to be the most realistic timeline.
Sources said the government remains committed to proposing legislation that would give Canadians more tools to deal with Internet harm, but there are a number of factors adding pressure to Rodriguez’s desire to “get it right.”
Mindful of pushback from opposition parties and some platforms during the government’s push to pass updates to the Broadcasting Act – including accusations of an attack on free speech – sources said the Liberals are preparing for an even bigger battle for this bill.
Given that, there has been some thought about waiting until there is more room on the legislative agenda to allow the Liberals to devote more attention to this bill once it is tabled. Rodriguez currently has two bills pending. Bill C-11, the revamped Broadcasting Act is before the Senate, and Bill C-18 on online news pay is before a House committee.
Speaking of recent examples of politicians and journalists facing threats, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Monday that in addition to committing to law enforcement, “Secretary Rodriguez is very willing to advance his legislation so that legislative tools are also in place ».
But CTVNews.ca sources cautioned that while there are elements of the legislation that will likely help — particularly when it comes to platforms taking more responsibility for the content that is posted — it’s not going to be the “panacea” for fixing increasingly toxic on the Internet. speaking. Instead, the upcoming legislation is seen as one piece of a larger puzzle.
For example, one element of the original proposal from the government that may be unlikely to change, given the Charter and privacy, is that it is intended to focus on public content rather than private communications such as text messages or emails. Hateful and harassing emails have been the focus of what some journalism advocacy groups consider a coordinated campaign.
Sources said there is some hope that the recent attention, spurred by more federal political figures from across the political spectrum speaking out, will help mobilize support and allow for a serious debate on tackling the issue.
Ahead of the government’s unveiling of its online harm legislation, here’s what you need to know about what’s been found in this file so far and how the bill may ultimately shape up.
SAFE FOR WHAT HE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
Two weeks before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls the 2021 federal election, the government has unveiled a “technical discussion paper” and launched a summer consultation process on a proposed online harms legislative framework, promising that responses will inform new laws and regulations. .
That proposal included implementing a 24-hour takedown requirement for content deemed harmful, as well as creating federal “last resort” powers to block online platforms that repeatedly refuse to take down harmful content.
The original Liberal proposal was also dropped:
Forcing platforms to provide data about their algorithms and other systems that look for and flag potentially harmful content and provide a rationale for when actions are taken on flagged posts; Obligations for websites to retain content and identify information for potential future legal action and new options to notify authorities of potentially illegal content and content of national security concern if an imminent risk of harm is suspected. Outline potential new ways for CSIS and the RCMP to play a role in combating online threats to national security and child exploitative content; and Establishing a new system for Canadians to appeal the platforms’ decisions about content moderation.
The regime proposed a series of tough new penalties for companies found to be repeatedly non-compliant, including fines of up to five percent of the company’s annual global revenue or $25 million, whichever is higher.
In order to operate and adjudicate this new system, the government has proposed the creation of a new “Digital Safety Commission of Canada” that will be able to issue binding decisions for platforms to remove harmful content, ordering them to do so when “They’re doing it wrong. “
During the summer 2021 feedback period, the government received the ears of stakeholders who raised concerns about the proposals by then-Canadian heritage minister Steven Guilbeault, as well as what was described as a “massively inadequate” consultation process.
From concerns that the proposal did not strike the right balance between addressing online harms and protecting freedom of expression, to the question of why the spectrum of harms is treated as equivalent, experts called for some important changes.
Facing concerted pressure from stakeholders that the government would ideally like as it moves forward with this conversation, following Rodriguez’s reappointment as heritage minister, he announced plans to return to the fold.
The decision to rework the plan was announced in February alongside the publication of a ‘What We Heard’ report based on an assessment of feedback from the consultation process.
It concluded that while the majority of respondents felt there was a need for the government to take action to crack down on harmful content online, given the complexity of the issue, future legislation needed to be cautious in its approach to guard against “unfettered concequenses”.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick This online damage framework is separate from a government bill introduced at the eleventh hour of the 43rd Parliament. Called Bill C-36, it focused on amendments to the Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act to address hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech, but posthumously when the 2021 election was called, the legislation was not reviewed by the Liberals. The bill was mentioned in the Liberals’ latest campaign platform as part of their promise to “more effectively fight online hate”, so it remains to be seen whether it could be folded into the next…
title: “Cyber Damage Feds Still Focused On New Bill Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Howard Leutwiler”
After receiving reams of critical feedback and returning to the draft with the help of experts in recent months, sources close to the file tell CTVNews.ca that the government is still considering how to approach the complex “cybersecurity” legislation in a way that addresses the concerns of critics, while addressing the state of online discourse.
The pledge was launched with the intention of forcing “online communication service providers” such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to be more accountable and transparent in their handling of five types of harmful content on their platforms: hate speech , child exploitation. , sharing non-consensual images, incitement to violence and terrorism.
The intention of the Liberals was to ensure that the kinds of behavior that are illegal in person are also illegal online, with an emphasis on public content rather than private communication.
“Online platforms are increasingly important for participation in democratic, cultural and public life. However, such platforms can also be used to threaten and intimidate Canadians and promote views that target communities, endanger the safety of people and undermine Canada’s social cohesion or democracy,” says the government’s landing page for this initiative.
“Now, more than ever, online services must be held accountable for addressing harmful content on their platforms and creating a safe online space that protects all Canadians,” he continues.
In addition to seeking expert advice, this summer Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and top officials in his department traveled across the country holding panel discussions with stakeholders and representatives from minority groups.
Public hearings aimed at capturing the concerns of Canadians – particularly those in marginalized communities – are set to continue through the fall, sources said, adding that this ongoing approach is intended to help inform the scope of the legislation.
PASSED PROMISE DEADLINE, FOCUS ON GETTING IT RIGHT
The Liberals have already gone beyond their campaign pledge to push through a “balanced and targeted” online harm bill within the first 100 days of their post-2021 mandate.
Amidst this increased attention and the significant work that remains before the bill is completed, CTVNews.ca asked when Canadians could expect to see a bill introduced in Parliament, and in an emailed response, Rodriguez’s office would not commit. on a timetable, saying the government’s priority is fixing the legislation.
“The minister is now engaging directly with Canadians across the country about the knowledge provided by the experts,” said Heritage Minister spokeswoman Laura Scaffidi. “Canadians should be able to express themselves freely and openly without fear of harm online… We are committed to getting this right and engaging Canadians in a thorough, open and transparent manner every step of the way.”
Despite a reluctance to put a timeline on the bill’s tabling, sources told CTVNews.ca it’s unlikely this fall, with early 2023 appearing to be the most realistic timeline.
Sources said the government remains committed to proposing legislation that would give Canadians more tools to deal with Internet harm, but there are a number of factors adding pressure to Rodriguez’s desire to “get it right.”
Mindful of pushback from opposition parties and some platforms during the government’s push to pass updates to the Broadcasting Act – including accusations of an attack on free speech – sources said the Liberals are preparing for an even bigger battle for this bill.
Given that, there has been some thought about waiting until there is more room on the legislative agenda to allow the Liberals to devote more attention to this bill once it is tabled. Rodriguez currently has two bills pending. Bill C-11, the revamped Broadcasting Act is before the Senate, and Bill C-18 on online news pay is before a House committee.
Speaking of recent examples of politicians and journalists facing threats, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Monday that in addition to committing to law enforcement, “Secretary Rodriguez is very willing to advance his legislation so that legislative tools are also in place ».
But CTVNews.ca sources cautioned that while there are elements of the legislation that will likely help — particularly when it comes to platforms taking more responsibility for the content that is posted — it’s not going to be the “panacea” for fixing increasingly toxic on the Internet. speaking. Instead, the upcoming legislation is seen as one piece of a larger puzzle.
For example, one element of the original proposal from the government that may be unlikely to change, given the Charter and privacy, is that it is intended to focus on public content rather than private communications such as text messages or emails. Hateful and harassing emails have been the focus of what some journalism advocacy groups consider a coordinated campaign.
Sources said there is some hope that the recent attention, spurred by more federal political figures from across the political spectrum speaking out, will help mobilize support and allow for a serious debate on tackling the issue.
Ahead of the government’s unveiling of its online harm legislation, here’s what you need to know about what’s been found in this file so far and how the bill may ultimately shape up.
SAFE FOR WHAT HE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
Two weeks before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls the 2021 federal election, the government has unveiled a “technical discussion paper” and launched a summer consultation process on a proposed online harms legislative framework, promising that responses will inform new laws and regulations. .
That proposal included implementing a 24-hour takedown requirement for content deemed harmful, as well as creating federal “last resort” powers to block online platforms that repeatedly refuse to take down harmful content.
The original Liberal proposal was also dropped:
Forcing platforms to provide data about their algorithms and other systems that look for and flag potentially harmful content and provide a rationale for when actions are taken on flagged posts; Obligations for websites to retain content and identify information for potential future legal action and new options to notify authorities of potentially illegal content and content of national security concern if an imminent risk of harm is suspected. Outline potential new ways for CSIS and the RCMP to play a role in combating online threats to national security and child exploitative content; and Establishing a new system for Canadians to appeal the platforms’ decisions about content moderation.
The regime proposed a series of tough new penalties for companies found to be repeatedly non-compliant, including fines of up to five percent of the company’s annual global revenue or $25 million, whichever is higher.
In order to operate and adjudicate this new system, the government has proposed the creation of a new “Digital Safety Commission of Canada” that will be able to issue binding decisions for platforms to remove harmful content, ordering them to do so when “They’re doing it wrong. “
During the summer 2021 feedback period, the government received the ears of stakeholders who raised concerns about the proposals by then-Canadian heritage minister Steven Guilbeault, as well as what was described as a “massively inadequate” consultation process.
From concerns that the proposal did not strike the right balance between addressing online harms and protecting freedom of expression, to the question of why the spectrum of harms is treated as equivalent, experts called for some important changes.
Facing concerted pressure from stakeholders that the government would ideally like as it moves forward with this conversation, following Rodriguez’s reappointment as heritage minister, he announced plans to return to the fold.
The decision to rework the plan was announced in February alongside the publication of a ‘What We Heard’ report based on an assessment of feedback from the consultation process.
It concluded that while the majority of respondents felt there was a need for the government to take action to crack down on harmful content online, given the complexity of the issue, future legislation needed to be cautious in its approach to guard against “unfettered concequenses”.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick This online damage framework is separate from a government bill introduced at the eleventh hour of the 43rd Parliament. Called Bill C-36, it focused on amendments to the Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act to address hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech, but posthumously when the 2021 election was called, the legislation was not reviewed by the Liberals. The bill was mentioned in the Liberals’ latest campaign platform as part of their promise to “more effectively fight online hate”, so it remains to be seen whether it could be folded into the next…
title: “Cyber Damage Feds Still Focused On New Bill Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Roger Betzer”
After receiving reams of critical feedback and returning to the draft with the help of experts in recent months, sources close to the file tell CTVNews.ca that the government is still considering how to approach the complex “cybersecurity” legislation in a way that addresses the concerns of critics, while addressing the state of online discourse.
The pledge was launched with the intention of forcing “online communication service providers” such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to be more accountable and transparent in their handling of five types of harmful content on their platforms: hate speech , child exploitation. , sharing non-consensual images, incitement to violence and terrorism.
The intention of the Liberals was to ensure that the kinds of behavior that are illegal in person are also illegal online, with an emphasis on public content rather than private communication.
“Online platforms are increasingly important for participation in democratic, cultural and public life. However, such platforms can also be used to threaten and intimidate Canadians and promote views that target communities, endanger the safety of people and undermine Canada’s social cohesion or democracy,” says the government’s landing page for this initiative.
“Now, more than ever, online services must be held accountable for addressing harmful content on their platforms and creating a safe online space that protects all Canadians,” he continues.
In addition to seeking expert advice, this summer Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and top officials in his department traveled across the country holding panel discussions with stakeholders and representatives from minority groups.
Public hearings aimed at capturing the concerns of Canadians – particularly those in marginalized communities – are set to continue through the fall, sources said, adding that this ongoing approach is intended to help inform the scope of the legislation.
PASSED PROMISE DEADLINE, FOCUS ON GETTING IT RIGHT
The Liberals have already gone beyond their campaign pledge to push through a “balanced and targeted” online harm bill within the first 100 days of their post-2021 mandate.
Amidst this increased attention and the significant work that remains before the bill is completed, CTVNews.ca asked when Canadians could expect to see a bill introduced in Parliament, and in an emailed response, Rodriguez’s office would not commit. on a timetable, saying the government’s priority is fixing the legislation.
“The minister is now engaging directly with Canadians across the country about the knowledge provided by the experts,” said Heritage Minister spokeswoman Laura Scaffidi. “Canadians should be able to express themselves freely and openly without fear of harm online… We are committed to getting this right and engaging Canadians in a thorough, open and transparent manner every step of the way.”
Despite a reluctance to put a timeline on the bill’s tabling, sources told CTVNews.ca it’s unlikely this fall, with early 2023 appearing to be the most realistic timeline.
Sources said the government remains committed to proposing legislation that would give Canadians more tools to deal with Internet harm, but there are a number of factors adding pressure to Rodriguez’s desire to “get it right.”
Mindful of pushback from opposition parties and some platforms during the government’s push to pass updates to the Broadcasting Act – including accusations of an attack on free speech – sources said the Liberals are preparing for an even bigger battle for this bill.
Given that, there has been some thought about waiting until there is more room on the legislative agenda to allow the Liberals to devote more attention to this bill once it is tabled. Rodriguez currently has two bills pending. Bill C-11, the revamped Broadcasting Act is before the Senate, and Bill C-18 on online news pay is before a House committee.
Speaking of recent examples of politicians and journalists facing threats, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Monday that in addition to committing to law enforcement, “Secretary Rodriguez is very willing to advance his legislation so that legislative tools are also in place ».
But CTVNews.ca sources cautioned that while there are elements of the legislation that will likely help — particularly when it comes to platforms taking more responsibility for the content that is posted — it’s not going to be the “panacea” for fixing increasingly toxic on the Internet. speaking. Instead, the upcoming legislation is seen as one piece of a larger puzzle.
For example, one element of the original proposal from the government that may be unlikely to change, given the Charter and privacy, is that it is intended to focus on public content rather than private communications such as text messages or emails. Hateful and harassing emails have been the focus of what some journalism advocacy groups consider a coordinated campaign.
Sources said there is some hope that the recent attention, spurred by more federal political figures from across the political spectrum speaking out, will help mobilize support and allow for a serious debate on tackling the issue.
Ahead of the government’s unveiling of its online harm legislation, here’s what you need to know about what’s been found in this file so far and how the bill may ultimately shape up.
SAFE FOR WHAT HE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
Two weeks before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls the 2021 federal election, the government has unveiled a “technical discussion paper” and launched a summer consultation process on a proposed online harms legislative framework, promising that responses will inform new laws and regulations. .
That proposal included implementing a 24-hour takedown requirement for content deemed harmful, as well as creating federal “last resort” powers to block online platforms that repeatedly refuse to take down harmful content.
The original Liberal proposal was also dropped:
Forcing platforms to provide data about their algorithms and other systems that look for and flag potentially harmful content and provide a rationale for when actions are taken on flagged posts; Obligations for websites to retain content and identify information for potential future legal action and new options to notify authorities of potentially illegal content and content of national security concern if an imminent risk of harm is suspected. Outline potential new ways for CSIS and the RCMP to play a role in combating online threats to national security and child exploitative content; and Establishing a new system for Canadians to appeal the platforms’ decisions about content moderation.
The regime proposed a series of tough new penalties for companies found to be repeatedly non-compliant, including fines of up to five percent of the company’s annual global revenue or $25 million, whichever is higher.
In order to operate and adjudicate this new system, the government has proposed the creation of a new “Digital Safety Commission of Canada” that will be able to issue binding decisions for platforms to remove harmful content, ordering them to do so when “They’re doing it wrong. “
During the summer 2021 feedback period, the government received the ears of stakeholders who raised concerns about the proposals by then-Canadian heritage minister Steven Guilbeault, as well as what was described as a “massively inadequate” consultation process.
From concerns that the proposal did not strike the right balance between addressing online harms and protecting freedom of expression, to the question of why the spectrum of harms is treated as equivalent, experts called for some important changes.
Facing concerted pressure from stakeholders that the government would ideally like as it moves forward with this conversation, following Rodriguez’s reappointment as heritage minister, he announced plans to return to the fold.
The decision to rework the plan was announced in February alongside the publication of a ‘What We Heard’ report based on an assessment of feedback from the consultation process.
It concluded that while the majority of respondents felt there was a need for the government to take action to crack down on harmful content online, given the complexity of the issue, future legislation needed to be cautious in its approach to guard against “unfettered concequenses”.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick This online damage framework is separate from a government bill introduced at the eleventh hour of the 43rd Parliament. Called Bill C-36, it focused on amendments to the Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act to address hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech, but posthumously when the 2021 election was called, the legislation was not reviewed by the Liberals. The bill was mentioned in the Liberals’ latest campaign platform as part of their promise to “more effectively fight online hate”, so it remains to be seen whether it could be folded into the next…
title: “Cyber Damage Feds Still Focused On New Bill Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “John Hobbs”
After receiving reams of critical feedback and returning to the draft with the help of experts in recent months, sources close to the file tell CTVNews.ca that the government is still considering how to approach the complex “cybersecurity” legislation in a way that addresses the concerns of critics, while addressing the state of online discourse.
The pledge was launched with the intention of forcing “online communication service providers” such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to be more accountable and transparent in their handling of five types of harmful content on their platforms: hate speech , child exploitation. , sharing non-consensual images, incitement to violence and terrorism.
The intention of the Liberals was to ensure that the kinds of behavior that are illegal in person are also illegal online, with an emphasis on public content rather than private communication.
“Online platforms are increasingly important for participation in democratic, cultural and public life. However, such platforms can also be used to threaten and intimidate Canadians and promote views that target communities, endanger the safety of people and undermine Canada’s social cohesion or democracy,” says the government’s landing page for this initiative.
“Now, more than ever, online services must be held accountable for addressing harmful content on their platforms and creating a safe online space that protects all Canadians,” he continues.
In addition to seeking expert advice, this summer Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and top officials in his department traveled across the country holding panel discussions with stakeholders and representatives from minority groups.
Public hearings aimed at capturing the concerns of Canadians – particularly those in marginalized communities – are set to continue through the fall, sources said, adding that this ongoing approach is intended to help inform the scope of the legislation.
PASSED PROMISE DEADLINE, FOCUS ON GETTING IT RIGHT
The Liberals have already gone beyond their campaign pledge to push through a “balanced and targeted” online harm bill within the first 100 days of their post-2021 mandate.
Amidst this increased attention and the significant work that remains before the bill is completed, CTVNews.ca asked when Canadians could expect to see a bill introduced in Parliament, and in an emailed response, Rodriguez’s office would not commit. on a timetable, saying the government’s priority is fixing the legislation.
“The minister is now engaging directly with Canadians across the country about the knowledge provided by the experts,” said Heritage Minister spokeswoman Laura Scaffidi. “Canadians should be able to express themselves freely and openly without fear of harm online… We are committed to getting this right and engaging Canadians in a thorough, open and transparent manner every step of the way.”
Despite a reluctance to put a timeline on the bill’s tabling, sources told CTVNews.ca it’s unlikely this fall, with early 2023 appearing to be the most realistic timeline.
Sources said the government remains committed to proposing legislation that would give Canadians more tools to deal with Internet harm, but there are a number of factors adding pressure to Rodriguez’s desire to “get it right.”
Mindful of pushback from opposition parties and some platforms during the government’s push to pass updates to the Broadcasting Act – including accusations of an attack on free speech – sources said the Liberals are preparing for an even bigger battle for this bill.
Given that, there has been some thought about waiting until there is more room on the legislative agenda to allow the Liberals to devote more attention to this bill once it is tabled. Rodriguez currently has two bills pending. Bill C-11, the revamped Broadcasting Act is before the Senate, and Bill C-18 on online news pay is before a House committee.
Speaking of recent examples of politicians and journalists facing threats, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Monday that in addition to committing to law enforcement, “Secretary Rodriguez is very willing to advance his legislation so that legislative tools are also in place ».
But CTVNews.ca sources cautioned that while there are elements of the legislation that will likely help — particularly when it comes to platforms taking more responsibility for the content that is posted — it’s not going to be the “panacea” for fixing increasingly toxic on the Internet. speaking. Instead, the upcoming legislation is seen as one piece of a larger puzzle.
For example, one element of the original proposal from the government that may be unlikely to change, given the Charter and privacy, is that it is intended to focus on public content rather than private communications such as text messages or emails. Hateful and harassing emails have been the focus of what some journalism advocacy groups consider a coordinated campaign.
Sources said there is some hope that the recent attention, spurred by more federal political figures from across the political spectrum speaking out, will help mobilize support and allow for a serious debate on tackling the issue.
Ahead of the government’s unveiling of its online harm legislation, here’s what you need to know about what’s been found in this file so far and how the bill may ultimately shape up.
SAFE FOR WHAT HE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
Two weeks before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls the 2021 federal election, the government has unveiled a “technical discussion paper” and launched a summer consultation process on a proposed online harms legislative framework, promising that responses will inform new laws and regulations. .
That proposal included implementing a 24-hour takedown requirement for content deemed harmful, as well as creating federal “last resort” powers to block online platforms that repeatedly refuse to take down harmful content.
The original Liberal proposal was also dropped:
Forcing platforms to provide data about their algorithms and other systems that look for and flag potentially harmful content and provide a rationale for when actions are taken on flagged posts; Obligations for websites to retain content and identify information for potential future legal action and new options to notify authorities of potentially illegal content and content of national security concern if an imminent risk of harm is suspected. Outline potential new ways for CSIS and the RCMP to play a role in combating online threats to national security and child exploitative content; and Establishing a new system for Canadians to appeal the platforms’ decisions about content moderation.
The regime proposed a series of tough new penalties for companies found to be repeatedly non-compliant, including fines of up to five percent of the company’s annual global revenue or $25 million, whichever is higher.
In order to operate and adjudicate this new system, the government has proposed the creation of a new “Digital Safety Commission of Canada” that will be able to issue binding decisions for platforms to remove harmful content, ordering them to do so when “They’re doing it wrong. “
During the summer 2021 feedback period, the government received the ears of stakeholders who raised concerns about the proposals by then-Canadian heritage minister Steven Guilbeault, as well as what was described as a “massively inadequate” consultation process.
From concerns that the proposal did not strike the right balance between addressing online harms and protecting freedom of expression, to the question of why the spectrum of harms is treated as equivalent, experts called for some important changes.
Facing concerted pressure from stakeholders that the government would ideally like as it moves forward with this conversation, following Rodriguez’s reappointment as heritage minister, he announced plans to return to the fold.
The decision to rework the plan was announced in February alongside the publication of a ‘What We Heard’ report based on an assessment of feedback from the consultation process.
It concluded that while the majority of respondents felt there was a need for the government to take action to crack down on harmful content online, given the complexity of the issue, future legislation needed to be cautious in its approach to guard against “unfettered concequenses”.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announces a new expert advisory group on internet safety as the next step in developing legislation to address harmful online content during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick This online damage framework is separate from a government bill introduced at the eleventh hour of the 43rd Parliament. Called Bill C-36, it focused on amendments to the Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act to address hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech, but posthumously when the 2021 election was called, the legislation was not reviewed by the Liberals. The bill was mentioned in the Liberals’ latest campaign platform as part of their promise to “more effectively fight online hate”, so it remains to be seen whether it could be folded into the next…
