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After more than 25 years of Canadian governments pursuing a hands-off approach to the online world, the government of Justin Trudeau is now pushing Bill C-10, a law that would see Canadians subjected to the most regulated internet in the free world.
Although pitched as a way to expand Canadian content provisions to the online sphere, the powers of Bill C-10 have expanded considerably in committee, including a provision introduced last week that could conceivably allow the federal government to order the deletion of any Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter upload made by a Canadian. In comments this week, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh indicated his party was open to providing the votes needed to pass C-10, seeing the bill as a means to combat online hate.
iPolitics By Janet E Silver. Published on Apr 29, 2021 5:54pm
In the coming weeks, Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault is expected to table a bill that will regulate digital platforms and require big tech to pay Canadian news agencies for their content.
Over the past few months, News Media Canada, which represents newspaper publishers, including Torstar which owns iPolitics, as well as big tech, including Google and Facebook, have been communicating with the government and MPs about the upcoming legislation.
Society needs to guard against the idea that news is a luxury, said Damien Collins, a Conservative MP in the British House of Commons and a former chair of its Culture, Media and Sports select committee, on Thursday.
iPolitics By iPolitics. Published on Apr 29, 2021 6:02pm Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan. (Andrew Meade/iPolitics)
Today’s Evening Brief is brought to you by News Media Canada. It’s time to level the digital playing field. Google and Facebook are using their monopoly to threaten and undermine local news. Other countries are taking action. It’s time for Canada to stand up to the web giants – and step up for local news. Learn more.
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For the second time in six years, Ottawa is launching an external review into sexual misconduct in the military. The harassment and misconduct probe will be led by former supreme court justice Louise Arbour, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced Thursday. The end product will be “concrete recommendations” on how to set up an independent, external reporting system one which allows victims to report violence and misconduct outside of the military chain of command, and without fear of reprisal.
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The Liberal government’s controversial new amendment to its broadcasting bill that would open up user-generated content on social media platforms to government regulation could find support among some opposition parties.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday he was open to supporting the bill with the new amendment, which critics have said amounts to an attack on free expression rights.
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“We will take a close look at the amendments and a close look at the bill before giving our final position,” he said, adding that the NDP supports measures to target online hate. Those measures will actually be tackled in a separate bill, which is set to be introduced by the government soon.