Canada unveils legislation to pressure tech firms to take away 'dangerous' content material on-line

International Courant

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says internet giants have did not preserve youngsters secure on-line.

Canada has unveiled a invoice that may pressure tech platforms to shortly take away on-line content material deemed dangerous, together with materials that sexualizes youngsters and stirs up hatred.

The On-line Harms Act, launched Monday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal authorities, would make tech firms chargeable for tackling seven classes of dangerous content material and enhance prison penalties for spreading hate on-line.

Underneath the laws, Canadians would have the ability to request the elimination of content material inside 24 hours, topic to a evaluate course of, and file complaints in opposition to individuals spreading hate speech in a human rights tribunal.

The seven classes of hurt outlined within the invoice are intimate content material communicated with out consent; content material that stirs up hatred; content material that incites violent extremism or terrorism; content material that incites violence; content material used to bully a toddler; and content material that encourages a toddler to hurt themselves.

The laws would create a brand new digital security fee to implement the requirements, which additionally embrace requiring platforms to introduce options to guard youngsters, comparable to parental controls and secure search settings.

Trudeau stated the laws would maintain tech firms accountable for the dangerous content material they host and make on-line areas safer.

“For too lengthy, internet giants have did not preserve youngsters secure on-line,” he says. “Far too typically this has had devastating penalties.”

In an announcement, the federal government stated it respects Canadians’ freedom of expression, however that everybody ought to have entry to a web based setting “the place they will specific themselves freely, with out worry for his or her security or their lives.”

There was additionally an “pressing want for higher safeguards for social media customers, particularly youngsters,” the report stated.

The invoice will likely be examined by a parliamentary committee after which go to the Senate for attainable revisions earlier than it could actually develop into legislation.

The federal government’s proposals have drawn fierce opposition from conservatives.

Conservative celebration chief Pierre Poilievre, who accuses Trudeau of being “woke” and “authoritarian,” stated final week that the federal government’s plans would infringe on Canadians’ freedom of expression.

“What does Justin Trudeau imply when he… says the phrase hate speech?” Poilievre stated in remarks broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Company. “He means speech he hates.”

Canada’s proposals comply with comparable laws in different Western international locations, together with the UK’s On-line Security Act, the European Union’s Digital Companies Act and content material moderation legal guidelines within the US states of Florida and Texas.

Canada unveils legislation to pressure tech firms to take away ‘dangerous’ content material on-line | Social media information

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