The Canadian Government Moves to Suppress "Harmful Online Content"
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 is drafting a bill that would suppress “harmful online content,” including hateful expression, on the internet.
The bill is intended to replace Bill C-36, which Justice Minister David Lametti introduced in the House of Commons in June 2021. Bill C-36 died when the government called the election of 2021.
On March 30, 2022, Justice Minister Lametti and Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced that an advisory panel would help draft the new bill.
While some organizations welcomed the prospect of suppressing “harmful” expression, others — including members of sexual minorities, the Indigenous population and racialized groups — expressed concerns.
PRESS RELEASE
Read the Canadian government’s announcement of March 30. It lists the people on the advisory panel:
Government of Canada announces expert advisory group on online safety (newswire.ca)
REPORTAGE
Marie Woolf of the Canadian Press reports:
In the National Post, Anja Karadeglija reports:
In the National Observer, Marc Fawcett-Atkinson reports:
Feds inch closer to making social media less toxic | Canada's National Observer: News & Analysis
Rachel Gilmore of Global News reports:
In The Peterborough Examiner, Raisa Patel reports:
Ottawa unveils expert panel that will help fight online hate | ThePeterboroughExaminer.com
Rachel Aiello of CTV News reports:
Harmful content online: Feds ask for expert help | CTV News
In The Lawyer’s Daily, Cristin Schmitz reports:
Feds seek experts’ help in bid to tackle cutting-edge legal issues posed by online harmful content - The Lawyer's Daily (thelawyersdaily.ca)
Marie Woolf of the Canadian Press reports:
Raffy Boudjikanian of the CBC reports:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/online-harm-bill-1.6337705
COMMENTARY
Konrad von Finckenstein and Peter Menzies write for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute:
Free speech vs. safe Internet: We can have both? | Macdonald-Laurier Institute (macdonaldlaurier.ca)
The editorial board of the Toronto Star comments:
Hateful tweet shows crackdown on online harms is overdue | The Star
The Book and Periodical Council was formed in 1975 as the Book and Periodical Development Council to provide a venue for members to discuss industry issues, address mutual concerns and undertake projects for the benefit of Canadian writing and publishing.