Canada just put out a draft law that would make tech companies take down “harmful content” from their sites.
The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced the Online Harms Act, which said that tech companies would have to remove any harmful content right away. This includes content that sexualizes children or spreads hate. The Act lists seven types of hate speech that they have to take down, and it pushes for harsher punishments for sharing harmful material online.
Within 24 hours of content being shared, Canadians can ask for it to be taken down; the content will then be reviewed, and complaints can be made against people who spread hate speech online.
This law says that seven types of content are harmful: content that is sexual or personal without permission; content that spreads hate; content that encourages extremism, terrorism, or violence; and content that is used to bully children or encourages them to hurt themselves.
The law would also force platforms to add new ways to keep kids safe, like parental controls or safe search settings. Tech companies will also be held responsible for the harmful information they have on their sites.
PM Justin Trudeau said, “For too long, web giants have failed to keep kids safe online.” “This has far too often led to terrible results.” He also spoke out, saying that everyone should be able to “express themselves freely, without fear for their safety or their life” online.
Some spoke out against the Act because they thought it was a way to control people. Pierre Poilievre, a right leader, asked, “What does Justin Trudeau mean when he says… the word hate speech?” He means speech that he doesn’t like.
The bill needs to be changed by the Senate before it can become law. It will first go through a committee in the government.
