BPC Bulletin March 10, 2022

Canadian Senator Introduces Bill to Shield Young People from Online Pornography

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee.

In Parliament, Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne has introduced Bill S-210 to restrict young people’s access to sexually explicit images on the internet.

The bill’s short title: Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act.

The first reading of Bill S-210 occurred in the Senate on November 24, 2021.

THE BILL

Read the text of the bill:

https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-210/first-reading

THE BILL’S STATUS

See the bill’s status in Parliament:

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/s-210

INTERVIEW

At Parents Aware Info, Marilyn Evans talks to Senator Miville-Dechêne on a podcast:

https://parentsaware.info/index.php/2022/03/03/4-5-new-bill-aims-to-protect-minors-from-exposure-to-pornography/

REPORTAGE

In Canadian Lawyer, Katrina Eñano reports:
https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/practice-areas/criminal/cba-expresses-concern-over-proposed-law-restricting-underage-access-to-sexually-explicit-materials/364448

COMMENTARY

Lara Karaian writes at Ryerson University’s Centre for Free Expression:
https://cfe.ryerson.ca/blog/2022/02/restricting-young-people%E2%80%99s-access-porn-won%E2%80%99t-save-them-it-will-threaten-sexual-speech?fbclid=IwAR35I3h27z-i9eed_SWf36kqV3Hkn-OzCks0sstI1dr4-s1OuvOrK9Kmx5g

In Psychology Today, Amanda L. Giordano writes:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/understanding-addiction/202202/what-know-about-adolescent-pornography-exposure

At the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Daly Barnett comments on an earlier incarnation of the proposal (Bill S-203):

https://www.eff.org/es/deeplinks/2021/04/canadas-attempt-regulate-sexual-content-online-ignores-technical-and-historical

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.

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