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Now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's sweeping online harms legislation is before Parliament, allowing key stakeholders, major platforms, and Canadians with direct personal experience with abuse to dig in and see what's being proposed, reaction is streaming in. CTVNews.ca has rounded up reaction, and here's how Bill C-63 is going over.
The Online Harms Act, which is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons this week, will include a new regulator, separate from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, with a mandate to reduce online harms.
“To the extent to which it identifies new issues, then obviously the law will make a difference,” said Michael Geist, Canada’s research chair in internet and e-commerce law. “Though that of course heightens the risks associated with the legislation, as it moves to potentially render some kinds of either content or behaviour unlawful.”
Attorney Corey Silverstein, professor Eric Goldman and more weigh in on the age verification bill that's become a hot-button topic in Canada.
A reckoning is on the way for age-restricted online content, as regulators move to pass mandatory age verification laws.