BPC Bulletin: Canadian Government's Experts on Online Safety Submit Their Findings
News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee.
In Ottawa, the federal Liberal government’s group of 12 experts who considered ways and means of limiting harms on the internet finished their meetings and released their findings this summer.
The Expert Advisory Group on Online Safety concluded their 10 meetings on June 10, 2022, and released their findings on July 8, 2022.
The federal Liberal government is expected to use the group’s findings when it drafts a new bill to limit online harms.
In 2021, the government identified five types of “harmful content” on the internet: hate speech, terrorist content, incitement to violence, child sexual exploitation and non-consensual intimate images. This year, the advisory group also considered disinformation.
The new Liberal bill will supersede Bill C-36, which Justice Minister David Lametti introduced in the House of Commons on June 23, 2021, to better define and combat hate propaganda and hate speech. Bill C-36 died shortly afterward.
THE EXPERT ADVISORY GROUP ON ONLINE SAFETY
Canadian Heritage lists the 12 experts here:
Government of Canada announces expert advisory group on online safety - Canada.ca
Canadian Heritage provides summaries of the group’s thinking over 10 meetings:
The Government’s commitment to address online safety - Canada.ca
REPORTAGE
July 2022
In the Toronto Star, Raisa Patel reports:
How should Canada tackle harmful online content? Look beyond our borders, experts say | The Star
Should Facebook Messenger or Instagram be regulated? | The Star
Raffy Boudjikanian of CBC News reports:
Heritage Department restarting consultations on online harms bill | CBC News
In the National Post, Anja Karadeglija reports:
Expert panel backs Liberal approach to online harms, but not content takedowns | National Post
June 2022
Marie Woolf of the Canadian Press reports:
Online hate law should address ‘deepfakes’ and disinformation: advisory panel - National | Globalnews.ca
In the National Post, Anja Karadeglija reports:
Liberals drop plan to force takedowns of 'harmful content' after censorship accusations | National Post
May 2022
Marie Woolf of the Canadian Press reports:
Advisory panel calls for Liberals' online hate law to cover Airbnb, video games - ThinkPol
Priscilla Ki Sun Hwang of CBC News reports:
Groups surprised at government 'secrecy' over online harm bill consultation | CBC News
COMMENTARY
In the National Post, Jamie Sarkonak comments:
Jamie Sarkonak: Liberals use 'expert' panel to give moral weight to online censorship | National Post
In the National Post, Jamil Jivani comments:
Jamil Jivani: Trudeau has damaged the Liberal party's commitment to free speech | National Post
In The Daily Press, Garth Davies and Sarah Negrin comment:
Davies, Negrin: Online hate bill could backfire | The Daily Press (timminspress.com)
The editorial board of The Globe and Mail comments:
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